Dairy composition with high-potency sweetener

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to dairy compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different dairy compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and a dairy product. The present invention also relates to dairy compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic, high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the dairy compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like flavor profile.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/556,049, filed Nov. 2, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,367,138, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,302, entitled “Natural High-Potency Sweetener Compositions With Improved Temporal Profile And/Or Flavor Profile, Methods For Their Formulations, and Uses,” filed on Nov. 23, 2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/739,124, entitled “Synthetic Sweetener Compositions With Improved Temporal Profile And/Or Flavor Profile, Methods For Their Formulations, and Uses,” filed on Nov. 23, 2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/805,209, entitled “Natural High-Potency Tabletop Sweetener Compositions with Improved Temporal and/or Flavor Profiles, Methods for Their Formulation, and Uses,” filed on Jun. 19, 2006; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/805,216, entitled “Rebaudioside A Composition and Method for Purifying Rebaudioside A,” filed on Jun. 19, 2006. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a dairy composition comprising a high-potency sweetener composition with improved temporal profile and/or flavor profile.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Natural caloric sugars, such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose are utilized heavily in beverage, food, pharmaceutical, and oral hygienic/cosmetic industries due to their pleasant taste. In particular, sucrose imparts a desirable taste for consumers. Although sucrose provides superior sweetness characteristics, it is caloric. While calories are necessary for proper bodily functions, there is a need in the market to provide alternative non-caloric or low-caloric sweeteners with sugar-like taste for consumers with sedentary lifestyles or those who are calorie conscious. However, in general, non-caloric or low caloric sweeteners have associated undesirable tastes to consumers such as delayed sweetness onset; lingering sweet aftertaste; bitter taste; metallic taste; astringent taste; cooling taste; licorice-like taste; and/or the like.

For example, the sweet tastes of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners are slower in onset and longer in duration than the sweet taste produced by sugar and thus change the taste balance of a food composition. Because of these differences, use of a natural high-potency sweetener to replace a bulk sweetener, such as sugar, in a food or beverage, causes an unbalanced temporal profile and/or flavor profile. In addition to the difference in temporal profile, high-potency sweeteners generally exhibit (i) lower maximal response than sugar, (ii) off tastes including bitter, metallic, cooling, astringent, licorice-like taste, etc., and/or (iii) sweetness which diminishes on iterative tasting. It is well known to those skilled in the art of food/beverage formulation that changing the sweetener in a composition requires re-balancing of the flavor and other taste components (e.g., acidulants). If the taste profile of natural and synthetic high-potency sweeteners could be modified to impart specific desired taste characteristics to be more sugar-like, the type and variety of compositions that may be prepared with that sweetener would be significantly expanded. Accordingly, it would be desirable to selectively modify the taste characteristics of natural and synthetic high-potency sweeteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, this invention addresses the above described need by providing a dairy composition having improved temporal profile and/or flavor profile and a method for improving the temporal profile and/or flavor profile for dairy compositions. In particular, this invention improves the temporal profile and/or flavor profile by imparting a more sugar-like temporal profile and/or flavor profile. More particularly, this invention comprises a dairy composition comprising a dairy product; at least one high-potency sweetener; and at least one sweet taste improving composition.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms and abbreviations used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although methods and compositions similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in practice of the present invention, suitable methods and compositions are described without intending that any such methods and compositions limit the invention herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a powder x-ray diffraction scan of rebaudioside A polymorph Form 1 on a plot of the scattering intensity versus the scattering angle 2θ in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a powder x-ray diffraction scan of rebaudioside A polymorph Form 2 on a plot of the scattering intensity versus the scattering angle 2θ in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a powder x-ray diffraction scan of rebaudioside A polymorph Form 3A on a plot of the scattering intensity versus the scattering angle 2θ in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a powder x-ray diffraction scan of rebaudioside A polymorph Form 3B on a plot of the scattering intensity versus the scattering angle 2θ in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a powder x-ray diffraction scan of rebaudioside A polymorph Form 4 on a plot of the scattering intensity versus the scattering angle 2θ in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to the presently proffered embodiments of the invention. Each example is provided by way of explanation of embodiments of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide dairy compositions comprising at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and a dairy product.

I. DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dairy products and processes for making dairy products suitable for use in this invention are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Dairy products, as used herein, comprise milk or foodstuffs produced from milk. Non-limiting examples of dairy products suitable for use in embodiments of this invention include milk, milk cream, sour cream, crème fraiche, buttermilk, cultured buttermilk, milk powder, condensed milk, evaporated milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt, ice cream, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, gelato, vla, piima, filmjolk, kajmak, kephir, viili, kumiss, airag, ice milk, casein, ayran, lassi, khoa, or combinations thereof.

Milk is a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals for the nourishment of their young. The female ability to produce milk is one of the defining characteristics of mammals and provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to digest more diverse foods. In particular embodiments of this invention, the dairy products are derived from the raw milk of cows, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, camels, water buffalo, yaks, reindeer, moose, or humans.

In particular embodiments of this invention, the processing of the dairy product from raw milk generally comprises the steps of pasteurizing, creaming, and homogenizing. Although raw milk may be consumed without pasteurization, it usually is pasteurized to destroy harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts. Pasteurizing generally comprises heating the milk to a high temperature for a short period of time to substantially reduce the number of microorganisms, thereby reducing the risk of disease.

Creaming traditionally follows pasteurization step, and involves the separation of milk into a higher-fat cream layer and a lower-fat milk layer. Milk will separate into milk and cream layers upon standing for twelve to twenty-four hours. The cream rises to the top of the milk layer and may be skimmed and used as a separate dairy product. Alternatively, centrifuges may be used to separate the cream from the milk. The remaining milk is classified according to the fat content of the milk, non-limiting examples of which include whole, 2%, 1%, and skim milk.

After removing the desired amount of fat from the milk by creaming, milk is often homogenized. Homogenization prevents cream from separating from the milk and generally involves pumping the milk at high pressures through narrow tubes in order to break up fat globules in the milk. Pasteurization, creaming, and homogenization of milk are common but are not required to produce consumable dairy products. Accordingly, suitable dairy products for use in embodiments of this invention may undergo no processing steps, a single processing step, or combinations of the processing steps described herein. Suitable dairy products for use in embodiments of this invention may also undergo processing steps in addition to or apart from the processing steps described herein.

Particular embodiments of this invention comprise dairy products produced from milk by additional processing steps. As described above, cream may be skimmed from the top of milk or separated from the milk using machine-centrifuges. In a particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises sour cream, a dairy product rich in fats that is obtained by fermenting cream using a bacterial culture. The bacteria produce lactic acid during fermentation, which sours and thickens the cream. In another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises crème fraiche, a heavy cream slightly soured with bacterial culture in a similar manner to sour cream. Crème fraiche ordinarily is not as thick or as sour as sour cream. In yet another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises cultured buttermilk. Cultured buttermilk is obtained by adding bacteria to milk. The resulting fermentation, in which the bacterial culture turns lactose into lactic acid, gives cultured buttermilk a sour taste. Although it is produced in a different manner, cultured buttermilk generally is similar to traditional buttermilk, which is a by-product of butter manufacture.

According to other particular embodiments of this invention, the dairy products comprise milk powder, condensed milk, evaporated milk, or combinations thereof. Milk powder, condensed milk, and evaporated milk generally are produced by removing water from milk. In a particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises a milk powder comprising dried milk solids with a low moisture content. In another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises condensed milk. Condensed milk generally comprises milk with a reduced water content and added sweetener, yielding a thick, sweet product with a long shelf-life. In yet another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises evaporated milk. Evaporated milk generally comprises fresh, homogenized milk from which about 60% of the water has been removed, that has been chilled, fortified with additives such as vitamins and stabilizers, packaged, and finally sterilized. According to another particular embodiment of this invention, the dairy product comprises a dry creamer/sweetener composition.

In another particular embodiment, the dairy product provided herein comprises butter. Butter generally is made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. Butter generally comprises butterfat surrounding small droplets comprising mostly water and milk proteins. The churning process damages the membranes surrounding the microscopic globules of butterfat, allowing the milk fats to conjoin and to separate from the other parts of the cream. In yet another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises buttermilk, which is the sour-tasting liquid remaining after producing butter from full-cream milk by the churning process.

In still another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises cheese, a solid foodstuff produced by curdling milk using a combination of rennet or rennet substitutes and acidification. Rennet, a natural complex of enzymes produced in mammalian stomachs to digest milk, is used in cheese-making to curdle the milk, causing it to separate into solids known as curds and liquids known as whey. Generally, rennet is obtained from the stomachs of young ruminants, such as calves; however, alternative sources of rennet include some plants, microbial organisms, and genetically modified bacteria, fungus, or yeast. In addition, milk may be coagulated by adding acid, such as citric acid. Generally, a combination of rennet and/or acidification is used to curdle the milk. After separating the milk into curds and whey, some cheeses are made by simply draining, salting, and packaging the curds. For most cheeses, however, more processing is needed. Many different methods may be used to produce the hundreds of available varieties of cheese. Processing methods include heating the cheese, cutting it into small cubes to drain, salting, stretching, cheddaring, washing, molding, aging, and ripening. Some cheeses, such as the blue cheeses, have additional bacteria or molds introduced to them before or during aging, imparting flavor and aroma to the finished product. Cottage cheese is a cheese curd product with a mild flavor that is drained but not pressed so that some whey remains. The curd is usually washed to remove acidity. Cream cheese is a soft, mild-tasting, white cheese with a high fat content that is produced by adding cream to milk and then curdling to form a rich curd. Alternatively, cream cheese can be made from skim milk with cream added to the curd. It should be understood that cheese, as used herein, comprises all solid foodstuff produced by the curdling milk.

In another particular embodiment of this invention, the dairy product comprises yogurt. Yogurt generally is produced by the bacterial fermentation of milk. The fermentation of lactose produces lactic acid, which acts on proteins in milk to give the yogurt a gel-like texture and tartness. In particularly desirable embodiments, the yogurt may be sweetened with a sweetener and/or flavored. Non-limiting examples of flavorings include, but are not limited to, fruits (e.g., peach, strawberry, banana), vanilla, and chocolate. Yogurt, as used herein, also includes yogurt varieties with different consistencies and viscosities, such as dahi, dadih or dadiah, labneh or labaneh, bulgarian, kefir, and matsoni. In another particular embodiment, the dairy product comprises a yogurt-based beverage, also known as drinkable yogurt or a yogurt smoothie. In particularly desirable embodiments, the yogurt-based beverage may comprise sweeteners, flavorings, other ingredients, or combinations thereof.

It is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that phytonutrients, plant extracts, and herbal compositions may be used in their natural and/or modified form. Modified phytonutrients, plant extracts, and herbal compositions include phytonutrients, plant extracts, and herbal compositions which have been altered naturally. For example, a modified phytonutrient includes, but is not limited to, phytonutrients which have been fermented, contacted with enzyme, or derivatized or substituted on the phytonutrient. In one embodiment, modified phytonutrients may be used individually or in combination with unmodified phytonutrients. For the sake of brevity, however, in the description of embodiments of this invention, a modified phytonutrient is not described expressly as an alternative to an unmodified phytonutrient, but it should be understood that modified phytonutrients can be substituted for or combined with phytonutrients in any embodiment disclosed herein. The same embodiments would be applicable to plant extracts and other herbal compositions. Plant extracts include extracts from foliage, stems, bark, fruit, seed, and any other plant matter.

It is contemplated that other dairy products beyond those described herein may be used in particular embodiments of this invention. Such dairy products are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, non-limiting examples of which include vla, piima, filmjolk, kajmak, kephir, viili, kumiss, airag, ice milk, casein, ayran, lassi, and khoa.

According to particular embodiments of this invention, the dairy compositions also may comprise other additives. Non-limiting examples of suitable additives include sweeteners and flavorants such as chocolate, strawberry, and banana. Particular embodiments of the dairy compositions provided herein also may comprise additional nutritional supplements such as vitamins (e.g., vitamin D) and minerals (e.g., calcium) to improve the nutritional composition of the milk.

In a particularly desirable embodiment, the dairy composition comprises at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving composition and a dairy product. In a particular embodiment, the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener is present in the dairy composition in an amount in the range of about 200 to about 20,000 weight percent of the dairy composition.

II. SWEETENER COMPOSITIONS

As described hereinabove, the dairy compositions comprise at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and at least one sweet taste improving composition. The combination of the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and at least one sweet taste improving composition, as used herein, comprises the “sweetener composition.” As used herein, dairy product is synonymous with a “sweetenable composition.” In addition, the combination of the sweetener composition and dairy product comprises a “sweetened composition.”

A. Natural High-Potency Sweeteners

Desirably, the sweetener composition comprises at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener. As used herein the phrases “natural high-potency sweetener”, “NHPS”, “NHPS composition”, and “natural high-potency sweetener composition” are synonymous. “NHPS” means any sweetener found in nature which may be in raw, extracted, purified, or any other form, singularly or in combination thereof and characteristically have a sweetness potency greater than sucrose, fructose, or glucose, yet have less calories. Non-limiting examples of NHPSs suitable for embodiments of this invention include rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, siamenoside, monatin and its salts (monatin SS, RR, RS, SR), curculin, glycyrrhizic acid and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, mabinlin, brazzein, hernandulcin, phyllodulcin, glycyphyllin, phloridzin, trilobatin, baiyunoside, osladin, polypodoside A, pterocaryoside A, pterocaryoside B, mukurozioside, phlomisoside I, periandrin I, abrusoside A, and cyclocarioside I. NHPS also includes modified NHPSs. Modified NHPSs include NHPSs which have been altered naturally. For example, a modified NHPS includes, but is not limited to, NHPSs which have been fermented, contacted with enzyme, or derivatized or substituted on the NHPS. In one embodiment, at least one modified NHPS may be used in combination with at least one NHPS. In another embodiment, at least one modified NHPS may be used without a NHPS. Thus, modified NHPSs may be substituted for a NHPS or may be used in combination with NHPSs for any of the embodiments described herein. For the sake of brevity, however, in the description of embodiments of this invention, a modified NHPS is not expressly described as an alternative to an unmodified NHPS, but it should be understood that modified NHPSs can be substituted for NHPSs in any embodiment disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, extracts of a NHPS may be used in any purity percentage. In another embodiment, when a NHPS is used as a non-extract, the purity of the NHPS may range for example from about 25% to about 100%. According to other embodiments, the purity of the NHPS may range from about 50% to about 100% from about 70% to about 100%; from about 80% to about 100%; from about 90% to about 100%; from about 95% to about 100%; from about 95% to about 99.5%; from about 96% to about 100%; from about 97% to about 100%; from about 98% to about 100%; and from about 99% to about 100%.

Purity, as used here, represents the weight percentage of a respective NHPS compound present in a NHPS extract, in raw or purified form. In one embodiment, a steviolglycoside extract comprises a particular steviolglycoside in a particular purity, with the remainder of the stevioglycoside extract comprising a mixture of other steviolglycosides.

To obtain a particularly pure extract of a NHPS, such as rebaudioside A, it may be necessary to purify the crude extract to a substantially pure form. Such methods generally are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

An exemplary method for purifying a NHPS, such as rebaudioside A, is described in the co-pending patent application No. 60/805,216, entitled “Rebaudioside A Composition and Method for Purifying Rebaudioside A,” filed on Jun. 19, 2006, by inventors DuBois, et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Briefly described, substantially pure rebaudioside A is crystallized in a single step from an aqueous organic solution comprising at least one organic solvent and water in an amount from about 10% to about 25% by weight, more particularly from about 15% to about 20% by weight. Organic solvents desirably comprise alcohols, acetone, and acetonitile. Non-limiting examples of alcohols include ethanol, methanol, isopranol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, tert-butanol, and isobutanol. Desirably, the at least one organic solvent comprises a mixture of ethanol and methanol present in the aqueous organic solution in a weight ratio ranging from about 20 parts to about 1 part ethanol to 1 part methanol, more desirably from about 3 parts to about 1 part ethanol to 1 part methanol.

Desirably, the weight ratio of the aqueous organic solvent and crude rebaudioside A ranges from about 10 to about 4 parts aqueous organic solvent to 1 part crude rebaudioside A, more particularly from about 5 to about 3 parts aqueous organic solvent to 1 part crude rebaudioside A.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A is carried out at approximately room temperature. In another embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the step of heating the rebaudioside A solution to a temperature in a range from about 20° C. to about 40° C., or in another embodiment to a reflux temperature, for about 0.25 hours to about 8 hours. In another exemplary embodiment, wherein the method for purifying rebaudioside A comprises the step of heating the rebaudioside A solution, the method further comprises the step of cooling the rebaudioside A solution to a temperature in the range from about 4° C. to about 25° C. for about 0.5 hours to about 24 hours.

According to particular embodiments, the purity of rebaudioside A may range from about 50% to about 100%; from about 70% to about 100%; from about 80% to about 100%; from about 90% to about 100%; from about 95% to about 100%; from about 95% to about 99.5%; about 96% to about 100%; from about 97% to about 100%; from about 98% to about 100%; and from about 99% to about 100%. According to particularly desirable embodiments, upon crystallization of crude rebaudioside A, the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition comprises rebaudioside A in a purity greater than about 95% by weight up to about 100% by weight on a dry basis. In other exemplary embodiments, substantially pure rebaudioside A comprises purity levels of rebaudioside A greater than about 97% up to about 100% rebaudioside A by weight on a dry basis, greater than about 98% up to about 100% by weight on a dry basis, or greater than about 99% up to about 100% by weight on a dry basis. The rebaudioside A solution during the single crystallization step may be stirred or unstirred.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the step of seeding (optional step) the rebaudioside A solution at an appropriate temperature with high-purity crystals of rebaudioside A sufficient to promote crystallization of the rebaudioside A to form pure rebaudioside A. An amount of rebaudioside A sufficient to promote crystallization of substantially pure rebaudioside A comprises an amount of rebaudioside A from about 0.0001% to about 1% by weight of the rebaudioside A present in the solution, more particularly from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight. An appropriate temperature for the step of seeding comprises a temperature in a range from about 18° C. to about 35° C.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the steps of separating and washing the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition. The substantially pure rebaudioside A composition may be separated from the aqueous organic solution by a variety of solid-liquid separation techniques that utilize centrifugal force, that include, without limitation, vertical and horizontal perforated basket centrifuge, solid bowl centrifuge, decanter centrifuge, peeler type centrifuge, pusher type centrifuge, Heinkel type centrifuge, disc stack centrifuge and cyclone separation. Additionally, separation may be enhanced by any of pressure, vacuum, and gravity filtration methods, that include, without limitation, the use of belt, drum, nutsche type, leaf, plate, Rosenmund type, sparkler type, and bag filters and filter press. Operation of the rebaudioside A solid-liquid separation device may be continuous, semi-continuous or in batch mode. The substantially pure rebaudioside A composition also may be washed on the separation device using various aqueous organic solvents and mixtures thereof. The substantially pure rebaudioside A composition can be dried partially or totally on the separation device using any number of gases, including, without limitation, nitrogen and argon, to evaporate residual liquid solvent. The substantially pure rebaudioside A composition may be removed automatically or manually from the separation device using liquids, gases or mechanical means by either dissolving the solid or maintaining the solid form.

In still another exemplary embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the step of drying the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition using techniques well known to those skilled in the art, non-limiting examples of which include the use of a rotary vacuum dryer, fluid bed dryer, rotary tunnel dryer, plate dryer, tray dryer, Nauta type dryer, spray dryer, flash dryer, micron dryer, pan dryer, high and low speed paddle dryer and microwave dryer. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of drying comprises drying the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition using a nitrogen or argon purge to remove the residual solvent at a temperature in a range from about 40° C. to about 60° C. for about 5 hours to about 100 hours.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, wherein the crude rebaudioside A mixture comprises substantially no rebaudioside D impurity, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the step of slurrying the composition of substantially pure rebaudioside A with an aqueous organic solvent prior to the step of drying the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition. The slurry is a mixture comprising a solid and an aqueous organic or organic solvent, wherein the solid comprises the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition and is only sparingly soluble in the aqueous organic or organic solvent. In an embodiment, the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition and aqueous organic solvent are present in the slurry in a weight ratio ranging from about 15 parts to 1 part aqueous organic solvent to 1 part substantially pure rebaudioside A composition. In one embodiment, the slurry is maintained at room temperature. In another embodiment, the step of slurrying comprises heating the slurry to a temperature in a range from about 20° C. to about 40° C. The substantially pure rebaudioside A composition is slurried for about 0.5 hours to about 24 hours.

In still yet another exemplary embodiment, the method of purifying rebaudioside A further comprises the steps of separating the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition from the aqueous organic or organic solvent of the slurry and washing the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition followed by the step of drying the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition.

If further purification is desired, the method of purifying rebaudioside A described herein may be repeated or the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition may be purified further using an alternative purification method, such as the column chromatography.

It also is contemplated that other NHPSs may be purified using the purification method described herein, requiring only minor experimentation that would be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The purification of rebaudioside A by crystallization as described above results in the formation of at least three different polymorphs: Form 1: a rebaudioside A hydrate; Form 2: an anhydrous rebaudioside A; and Form 3: a rebaudioside A solvate. In addition to the at least three polymorph forms of rebaudioside A, the purification of rebaudioside A may result in the formation of an amorphous form of rebaudioside A, Form 4. The aqueous organic solution and temperature of the purification process influence the resulting polymorph and amorphous forms in the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition. FIGS. 1-5 are exemplary powder x-ray diffraction (XRPD) scans of the polymorph and amorphous forms of rebaudioside A: Form 1 (hydrate), Form 2 (anhydrate), Form 3A (methanol solvate), Form 3B (ethanol solvate), and Form 4 (amorphous), respectively. The material properties of the three rebaudioside A polymorph and amorphous forms are summarized in the following table:

TABLE 1 Rebaudioside A Polymorphs and Amorphous Forms Form 1 Form 2 Form 3 Form 4 Polymorph Polymorph Polymorph Amorphous Rate of Very low Intermediate High High dissolution (<0.2%/60 (<30%/5 (>30%/5 (>35%/5 in H2O at minutes) minutes minutes) minutes) 25° C. Alcohol <0.5% <1% 1-3% <0.05% content Moisture  >5% <1%  <3%   6.74% content

The type of polymorph formed is dependent on the composition of the aqueous organic solution, the temperature of the crystallization step, and the temperature during the drying step. Form 1 and Form 3 are formed during the single crystallization step while Form 2 is formed during the drying step after conversion from Form 1 or Form 3.

Low temperatures during the crystallization step, in the range of about 20° C. to about 50° C., and a low ratio of water to the organic solvent in the aqueous organic solvent results in the formation of Form 3. High temperatures during the crystallization step, in the range of about 50° C. to about 80° C., and a high ratio of water to the organic solvent in the aqueous organic solvent results in the formation of the Form 1. Form 1 can be converted to Form 3 by slurrying in an anhydrous solvent at room temperature (2-16 hours) or at reflux for approximately (0.5-3 hours). Form 3 can be converted to Form 1 by slurrying the polymorph in water at room temperature for approximately 16 hours or at reflux for approximately 2-3 hours. Form 3 can be converted to the Form 2 during the drying process; however, increasing either the drying temperature above 70° C. or the drying time of a substantially pure rebaudioside A composition can result in decomposition of the rebaudioside A and increase the remaining rebaudioside B impurity in the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition. Form 2 can be converted to Form 1 with the addition of water.

Form 4 may be formed from Form 1, 2, 3, or combinations thereof, using methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Non-limiting examples of such methods include melt-processing, ball milling, crystallization, lyophilization, cryo-grinding, and spray-drying. In a particular embodiment, Form 4 can be prepared from a substantially pure rebaudioside A composition obtained by the purification methods described hereinabove by spray-drying a solution of the substantially pure rebaudioside A composition.

B. Synthetic High-Potency Sweeteners

As used herein, the phrase “synthetic sweetener” refers to any compositions which are not found in nature and characteristically have a sweetness potency greater than sucrose, fructose, or glucose, yet have less calories. Non-limiting examples of synthetic sweeteners suitable for embodiments of this invention include sucralose, potassium acesulfame, aspartame, alitame, saccharin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, cyclamate, neotame, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, salts thereof, and the like.

C. Combinations of Natural and/or Synthetic High-Potency Sweeteners

The NHPS and synthetic sweeteners may be used individually or in combination with other NHPS and/or synthetic sweeteners. For example, the sweetener composition may comprise a single NHPS or a single synthetic sweetener; a single NHPS in combination with a single synthetic sweetener; one or more NHPSs in combination with a single synthetic sweetener; a single NHPS in combination with one or more synthetic sweeteners; or one or more NHPSs in combination with one or more synthetic sweeteners. A plurality of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners may be used as long as the combined effect does not adversely affect the taste of the sweetener composition.

For example, particular embodiments comprise combinations of NHPSs, such as steviolglycosides. Non-limiting examples of suitable stevioglycosides which may be combined include rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, stevioside, or steviolbioside. According to particularly desirable embodiments of the present invention, the combination of high-potency sweeteners comprises rebaudioside A in combination with rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, stevioside, steviolbioside, dulcoside A, or combinations thereof.

In another particular embodiment, rebaudioside B is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 1 to about 8 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 2 to about 5 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 2 to about 3 weight percent.

In another particular embodiment, rebaudioside C is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 1 to about 10 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 3 to about 8 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 4 to about 6 weight percent.

In still another particular embodiment, rebaudioside E is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 weight percent.

In still another particular embodiment, rebaudioside F is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 weight percent.

In still yet another particular embodiment, dulcoside A is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 weight percent.

In yet another particular embodiment, dulcoside B is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 weight percent.

In another particular embodiment, stevioside is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.5 to about 10 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 1 to about 6 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 1 to about 4 weight percent.

In still another particular embodiment, steviolbioside is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, more desirably in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, and still more desirably in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 weight percent.

According to a particularly desirable embodiment, the high-potency sweetener composition comprises a combination of rebaudioside A, stevioside, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, and rebaudioside F; wherein rebaudioside A is present in the combination of high-potency sweeteners in an amount in the range of about 75 to about 85 weight percent based on the total weight of the combination of high-potency sweeteners, stevioside is present in an amount in the range of about 1 to about 6 weight percent, rebaudioside B is present in an amount in the range of about 2 to about 5 weight percent, rebaudioside C is present in an amount in the range of about 3 to about 8 weight percent, and rebaudioside F is present in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent.

In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the sweetener composition can be customized to obtain a desired calorie content. For example, a low-caloric or non-caloric NHPS may be combined with a caloric natural sweetener and/or other coloric additives to produce a sweetener composition with a preferred calorie content.

III. SWEET TASTE IMPROVING COMPOSITIONS

The sweetener composition also comprises a sweet taste improving composition, non-limiting examples of which include carbohydrates, polyols, amino acids and their corresponding salts, polyamino acids and their corresponding salts, sugar acids and their corresponding salts, nucleotides, organic acids, inorganic acids, organic salts including organic acid salts and organic base salts, inorganic salts, bitter compounds, flavorants and flavoring ingredients, astringent compounds, proteins or protein hydrolysates, surfactants, emulsifiers, flavonoids, alcohols, polymers, other sweet taste improving taste additives imparting such sugar-like characteristics, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a single sweet taste improving composition may be used in combination with a single natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener. In another embodiment of the present invention, a single sweet taste improving composition may be used in combination with one or more natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners. In yet another embodiment, one or more sweet taste improving compositions may be used in combination with a single natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener. In a further embodiment, there may be a plurality of sweet taste improving combinations used in combination with one or more natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners.

In a particular embodiment, combinations of at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and at least one sweet taste improving composition suppress, reduce, or eliminate undesirable taste and impart sugar-like characteristics to the sweetener composition. As used herein, the phrase “undesirable taste” includes any taste property which is not imparted by sugars, e.g. glucose, sucrose, fructose, or similar saccharides. Non-limiting examples of undesirable tastes include delayed sweetness onset, lingering sweet aftertaste, metallic taste, bitter taste, cooling sensation taste or menthol-like taste, licorice-like taste, and/or the like.

A. Sweet Taste

In one embodiment, a sweetener composition exhibits a more sugar-like temporal and/or sugar-like flavor profile than a sweetener composition comprising at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, but without a sweet taste improving composition is provided. As used herein, the phrases “sugar-like characteristic,” “sugar-like taste,” “sugar-like sweet,” “sugary,” and “sugar-like” are synonymous. Sugar-like characteristics include any characteristic similar to that of sucrose and include, but are not limited to, maximal response, flavor profile, temporal profile, adaptation behavior, mouthfeel, concentration/response function behavior, tastant and flavor/sweet taste interactions, spatial pattern selectivity, and temperature effects. These characteristics are dimensions in which the taste of sucrose is different from the tastes of natural and synthetic high-potency sweeteners. Whether or not a characteristic is more sugar-like is determined by expert sensory panel assessments of sugar and compositions comprising at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, both with and without a sweet taste improving composition. Such assessments quantify similarities of the characteristics of compositions comprising at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, both with and without a sweet taste improving composition, with those comprising sugar. Suitable procedures for determining whether a composition has a more sugar-like taste are well known in the art.

In a particular embodiment, a panel of assessors is used to measure the reduction of sweetness linger. Briefly described, a panel of assessors (generally 8 to 12 individuals) is trained to evaluate sweetness perception and measure sweetness at several time points from when the sample is initially taken into the mouth until 3 minutes after it has been expectorated. Using statistical analysis, the results are compared between samples containing additives and samples that do not contain additives. A decrease in score for a time point measured after the sample has cleared the mouth indicates there has been a reduction in sweetness perception.

The panel of assessors may be trained using procedures well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In a particular embodiment, the panel of assessors may be trained using the Spectrum™ Descriptive Analysis Method (Meilgaard et al, Sensory Evaluation Techniques, 3^(rd) edition, Chapter 11). Desirably, the focus of training should be the recognition of and the measure of the basic tastes; specifically, sweet. In order to ensure accuracy and reproducibility of results, each assessor should repeat the measure of the reduction of sweetness linger about three to about five times per sample, taking at least a five minute break between each repetition and/or sample and rinsing well with water to clear the mouth.

Generally, the method of measuring sweetness comprises taking a 10 mL sample into the mouth, holding the sample in the mouth for 5 seconds and gently swirling the sample in the mouth, rating the sweetness intensity perceived at 5 seconds, expectorating the sample (without swallowing following expectorating the sample), rinsing with one mouthful of water (e.g., vigorously moving water in mouth as if with mouth wash) and expectorating the rinse water, rating the sweetness intensity perceived immediately upon expectorating the rinse water, waiting 45 seconds and, while wating those 45 seconds, identifying the time of maximum perceived sweetness intensity and rating the sweetness intensity at that time (moving the mouth normally and swallowing as needed), rating the sweetness intensity after another 10 seconds, rating the sweetness intensity after another 60 seconds (cumulative 120 seconds after rinse), and rating the sweetness intensity after still another 60 seconds (cumulative 180 seconds after rinse). Between samples take a 5 minute break, rinsing well with water to clear the mouth.

B. Types of Sweet Taste Improving Compositions

As described hereinabove, sweet taste improving compositions include carbohydrates, polyols, amino acids and their corresponding salts, polyamino acids and their corresponding salts, sugar acids and their corresponding salts, nucleotides, organic acids, inorganic acids, organic salts including organic acid salts and organic base salts, inorganic salts, bitter compounds, flavorants and flavoring ingredients, astringent compounds, proteins or protein hydrolysates, surfactants, emulsifiers, flavonoids, alcohols, polymers, other sweet taste improving taste additives imparting such sugar-like characteristics, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “carbohydrate” generally refers to aldehyde or ketone compounds substituted with multiple hydroxyl groups, of the general formula (CH₂O)_(n), wherein n is 3-30, as well as their oligomers and polymers. The carbohydrates of the present invention can, in addition, be substituted or deoxygenated at one or more positions. Carbohydrates, as used herein, encompass unmodified carbohydrates, carbohydrate derivatives, substituted carbohydrates, and modified carbohydrates. As used herein, the phrases “carbohydrate derivatives”, “substituted carbohydrate”, and “modified carbohydrates” are synonymous. Modified carbohydrate means any carbohydrate wherein at least one atom has been added, removed, substituted, or combinations thereof. Thus, carbohydrate derivatives or substituted carbohydrates include substituted and unsubstituted monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. The carbohydrate derivatives or substituted carbohydrates optionally can be deoxygenated at any corresponding C-position, and/or substituted with one or more moieties such as hydrogen, halogen, haloalkyl, carboxyl, acyl, acyloxy, amino, amido, carboxyl derivatives, alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, sulfo, mercapto, imino, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamoyl, carboalkoxy, carboxamido, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, oximino, hydrazino, carbamyl, phospho, phosphonato, or any other viable functional group provided the carbohydrate derivative or substituted carbohydrate functions to improve the sweet taste of the sweetener composition.

Non-limiting examples of carbohydrates in embodiments of this invention include tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, and glucose syrup. Additionally, the carbohydrates as used herein may be in either the D- or L-configuration.

The term “polyol”, as used herein, refers to a molecule that contains more than one hydroxyl group. A polyol may be a diol, triol, or a tetraol which contain 2, 3, and 4 hydroxyl groups, respectively. A polyol also may contain more than four hydroxyl groups, such as a pentaol, hexaol, heptaol, or the like, which contain, 5, 6, or 7 hydroxyl groups, respectively. Additionally, a polyol also may be a sugar alcohol, polyhydric alcohol, or polyalcohol which is a reduced form of carbohydrate, wherein the carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group.

Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving polyol additives in embodiments of this invention include erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol (glycerine), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, reduced glucose syrup, and sugar alcohols or any other carbohydrates capable of being reduced which do not adversely affect the taste of the sweetener composition.

Suitable sweet taste improving amino acid additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, or gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, and their salt forms such as sodium or potassium salts or acid salts. The sweet taste improving amino acid additives also may be in the D- or L-configuration and in the mono-, di-, or tri-form of the same or different amino acids. Additionally, the amino acids may be α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and ε-isomers if appropriate. Combinations of the foregoing amino acids and their corresponding salts (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium salts or other alkali or alkaline earth metal salts thereof, or acid salts) also are suitable sweet taste improving additives in embodiments of this invention. The amino acids may be natural or synthetic. The amino acids also may be modified. Modified amino acids refers to any amino acid wherein at least one atom has been added, removed, substituted, or combinations thereof (e.g., N-alkyl amino acid, N-acyl amino acid, or N-methyl amino acid). Non-limiting examples of modified amino acids include amino acid derivatives such as trimethyl glycine, N-methyl-glycine, and N-methyl-alanine. As used herein, amino acids encompass both modified and unmodified amino acids. As used herein, modified amino acid also may encompass peptides and polypeptides (e.g., dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides, and pentapeptides) such as glutathione and L-alanyl-L-glutamine.

Suitable sweet taste improving polyamino acid additives include poly-L-aspartic acid, poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), poly-L-ornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-L-ε-ornithine), poly-L-arginine, other polymeric forms of amino acids, and salt forms thereof (e.g., magnesium, calcium, potassium, or sodium salts such as L-glutamic acid mono sodium salt). The sweet taste improving polyamino acid additives also may be in the D- or L-configuration. Additionally, the polyamino acids may be α-, β-, γ-, δ-, and ε-isomers if appropriate. Combinations of the foregoing polyamino acids and their corresponding salts (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium salts or other alkali or alkaline earth metal salts thereof or acid salts) also are suitable sweet taste improving additives in embodiments of this invention. The polyamino acids described herein also may comprise co-polymers of different amino acids. The polyamino acids may be natural or synthetic. The polyamino acids also may be modified, such that at least one atom has been added, removed, substituted, or combinations thereof (e.g., N-alkyl polyamino acid or N-acyl polyamino acid). As used herein, polyamino acids encompass both modified and unmodified polyamino acids. In accordance with particular embodiments, modified polyamino acids include, but are not limited to polyamino acids of various molecular weights (MW), such as poly-L-α-lysine with a MW of 1,500, MW of 6,000, MW of 25,200, MW of 63,000, MW of 83,000, or MW of 300,000.

Suitable sweet taste improving sugar acid additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, aldonic, uronic, aldaric, alginic, gluconic, glucuronic, glucaric, galactaric, galacturonic, and their salts (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium salts or other physiologically acceptable salts), and combinations thereof.

Suitable sweet taste improving nucleotide additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, and their alkali or alkaline earth metal salts, and combinations thereof. The nucleotides described herein also may comprise nucleotide-related additives, such as nucleosides or nucleic acid bases (e.g., guanine, cytosine, adenine, thymine, uracil).

Suitable sweet taste improving organic acid additives include any compound which comprises a —COOH moiety. Suitable sweet taste improving organic acid additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, C2-C30 carboxylic acids, substituted hydroxyl C1-C30 carboxylic acids, benzoic acid, substituted benzoic acids (e.g. 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid), substituted cinnamic acids, hydroxyacids, substituted hydroxybenzoic acids, substituted cyclohexyl carboxylic acids, tannic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, glucoheptonic acids, adipic acid, hydroxycitric acid, malic acid, fruitaric acid (a blend of malic, fumaric, and tartaric acids), fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, creatine, glucosamine hydrochloride, glucono delta lactone, caffeic acid, bile acids, acetic acid, ascorbic acid, alginic acid, erythorbic acid, polyglutamic acid, and their alkali or alkaline earth metal salt derivatives thereof. In addition, the sweet taste improving organic acid additives also may be in either the D- or L-configuration.

Suitable sweet taste improving organic acid salt additives include, but are not limited to, sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium salts of all organic acids, such as salts of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid (e.g., sodium lactate), alginic acid (e.g., sodium alginate), ascorbic acid (e.g., sodium ascorbate), benzoic acid (e.g., sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate), and adipic acid. The examples of the sweet taste improving organic acid salt additives described optionally may be substituted with one or more of the following moiety selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, carboxyl, acyl, acyloxy, amino, amido, carboxyl derivatives, alkylamino, dialkylamino, arylamino, alkoxy, aryloxy, nitro, cyano, sulfo, thiol, imine, sulfonyl, sulfenyl, sulfinyl, sulfamyl, carboxalkoxy, carboxamido, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, phosphoryl, phosphino, thioester, thioether, anhydride, oximino, hydrazino, carbamyl, phospho, phosphonato, and any other viable functional group, provided the substituted organic acid salt additive functions to improve the sweet taste of the sweetener composition.

Suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, polyphosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and their corresponding alkali or alkaline earth metal salts thereof (e.g., inositol hexaphosphate Mg/Ca).

Suitable sweet taste improving bitter compound additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, caffeine, quinine, urea, bitter orange oil, naringin, quassia, and salts thereof.

Suitable sweet taste improving flavorant and flavoring ingredient additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, vanillin, vanilla extract, mango extract, cinnamon, citrus, coconut, ginger, viridiflorol, almond, menthol (including menthol without mint), grape skin extract, and grape seed extract. “Flavorant” and “flavoring ingredient” are synonymous, and include natural or synthetic substances or combinations thereof. Flavorants also include any other substance which imparts flavor, and may include natural or non-natural (synthetic) substances which are safe for human or animals when used in a generally accepted range. Non-limiting examples of proprietary flavorants include Döhler™ Natural Flavoring Sweetness Enhancer K14323 (Döhler™, Darmstadt, Germany), Symrise™ Natural Flavor Mask for Sweeteners 161453 and 164126 (Symrise, Holzminden™, Germany), Natural Advantage™ Bitterness Blockers 1, 2, 9 and 10 (Natural Advantage™, Freehold, N.J., U.S.A.), and Sucramask™ (Creative Research Management, Stockton, Calif., U.S.A.).

Suitable sweet taste improving polymer additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, chitosan, pectin, pectic, pectinic, polyuronic, polygalacturonic acid, starch, food hydrocolloid or crude extracts thereof (e.g., gum acacia senegal (Fibergum™), gum acacia seyal, carageenan), poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), poly-L-ornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-L-ε-ornithine), polyarginine, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether), polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, polyethyleneimine, alginic acid, sodium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) and its salts, and sodium polyethyleneglycolalginate and other cationic and anionic polymers.

Suitable sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, bovine serum albumin (BSA), whey protein (including fractions or concentrates thereof such as 90% instant whey protein isolate, 34% whey protein, 50% hydrolyzed whey protein, and 80% whey protein concentrate), soluble rice protein, soy protein, protein isolates, protein hydrolysates, reaction products of protein hydrolysates, glycoproteins, and/or proteoglycans containing amino acids (e.g., glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, norvaline, methionine, proline, tyrosine, hydroxyproline, and the like), collagen (e.g., gelatin), partially hydrolyzed collagen (e.g., hydrolyzed fish collagen), and collagen hydrolysates (e.g., porcine collagen hydrolysate).

Suitable sweet taste improving surfactant additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, polysorbates (e.g., polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80), polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate or dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium, sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetylpyridinium chloride(hexadecylpyridinium chloride), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium cholate, carbamoyl, choline chloride, sodium glycocholate, sodium taurodeoxycholate, lauric arginate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sodium taurocholate, lecithins, sucrose oleate esters, sucrose stearate esters, sucrose palmitate esters, sucrose laurate esters, and other emulsifiers, and the like.

Suitable sweet taste improving flavonoid additives for use in embodiments of this invention generally are classified as flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, isoflavones, or anthocyanidins. Non-limiting examples of flavonoid additives include catechins (e.g., green tea extracts such as Polyphenon™ 60, Polyphenon™ 30, and Polyphenon™ 25 (Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd., Japan), polyphenols, rutins (e.g., enzyme modified rutin Sanmelin™ AO (San-Ei Gen F.F.I., Inc., Osaka, Japan)), neohesperidin, naringin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, and the like.

Suitable sweet taste improving alcohol additives for use in embodiments of this invention include, but are not limited to, ethanol.

Suitable sweet taste improving astringent compound additives include, but are not limited to, tannic acid, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), alum, tannic acid, and polyphenols (e.g., tea polyphenols).

Suitable sweet taste improving vitamins include nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) and pyridoxal hydrochloride (Vitamin B6).

The sweet taste improving compositions also may comprise natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners. For example, wherein the sweetener composition comprises at least one NHPS, the at least one sweet taste improving composition may comprise a synthetic high-potency sweetener, non-limiting examples of which include sucralose, potassium acesulfame, aspartame, alitame, saccharin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, cyclamate, neotame, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, salts thereof, and the like.

The sweet taste improving compositions also may be in salt form which may be obtained using standard procedures well known in the art. The term “salt” also refers to complexes that retain the desired chemical activity of the sweet taste improving compositions of the present invention and are safe for human or animal consumption in a generally acceptable range. Alkali metal (for example, sodium or potassium) or alkaline earth metal (for example, calcium or magnesium) salts also can be made. Salts also may include combinations of alkali and alkaline earth metals. Non-limiting examples of such salts are (a) acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids and salts formed with organic acids; (b) base addition salts formed with metal cations such as calcium, bismuth, barium, magnesium, aluminum, copper, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, sodium, potassium, and the like, or with a cation formed from ammonia, N,N-dibenzylethylenediamine, D-glucosamine, tetraethylammonium, or ethylenediamine; or (c) combinations of (a) and (b). Thus, any salt forms which may be derived from the sweet taste improving compositions may be used with the embodiments of the present invention as long as the salts of the sweet taste improving additives do not adversely affect the taste of the sweetener compositions comprising the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener. The salt forms of the additives can be added to the natural and/or synthetic sweetener composition in the same amounts as their acid or base forms.

In particular embodiments, suitable sweet taste improving inorganic salts useful as sweet taste improving additives include, but are not limited to, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium sulfate, alum, magnesium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid (e.g., inorganic phosphates), salts of hydrochloric acid (e.g., inorganic chlorides), sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate, and sodium bicarbonate. Furthermore, in particular embodiments, suitable organic salts useful as sweet taste improving additives include, but are not limited to, choline chloride, alginic acid sodium salt (sodium alginate), glucoheptonic acid sodium salt, gluconic acid sodium salt (sodium gluconate), gluconic acid potassium salt (potassium gluconate), guanidine HCl, glucosamine HCl, amiloride HCl, monosodium glutamate (MSG), adenosine monophosphate salt, magnesium gluconate, potassium tartrate (monohydrate), and sodium tartrate (dihydrate).

C. Combinations of Sweet Taste Improving Compositions

It has been discovered that combinations of at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and at least one sweet taste improving composition improve the temporal profile and/or flavor profile, including the osmotic taste, to be more sugar-like. One of ordinary skill in the art, with the teachings of the present invention, may arrive at all the possible combinations of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners and sweet taste improving compositions. For example, non-limiting combinations of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and sweet taste improving compositions include:

-   -   1. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener         and at least one carbohydrate;     -   2. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener         and at least one polyol;     -   3. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener         and at least one amino acid;     -   4. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener         and at least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   5. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener,         at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyol, at least one         amino acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   6. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener,         at least one carbohydrate, and at least one polyol;     -   7. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener,         at least one carbohydrate, and at least one amino acid;     -   8. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener,         at least one carbohydrate, and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive;     -   9. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener,         at least one polyol, and at least one amino acid;     -   10. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one polyol, and at least one other sweet         taste improving additive;     -   11. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one amino acid, and at least one other sweet         taste improving additive;     -   12. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyol, and         at least one amino acid;     -   13. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyol, and         at least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   14. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive; and     -   15. at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency         sweetener, at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid,         and at least one other sweet taste improving additive.

These fifteen major combinations further may be broken down into further combinations in order to improve the overall taste of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener or the sweetened compositions comprising the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener.

As explained above, the sweet taste improving composition is selected from the group consisting of polyols, carbohydrates, amino acids, other sweet taste improving additives, and combinations thereof. The other sweet taste improving additives useful in embodiments of this invention are described hereinabove. In one embodiment, a single sweet taste improving composition may be used with a single natural or synthetic high-potency sweetener and a dairy product. In another embodiment of the present invention, a single sweet taste improving composition may be used with one or more natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners and a dairy product. In yet another embodiment, one or more sweet taste improving compositions may be used with a single natural or synthetic high-potency sweetener and a dairy product. In a further embodiment, there may be a plurality of sweet taste improving compositions used in combination with one or more natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners and a dairy product. Thus, non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving composition combinations for embodiments of this invention include:

-   -   i. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   ii. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   iii. at least one polyol and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive;     -   iv. at least one polyol and at least one carbohydrate;     -   v. at least one carbohydrate and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive;     -   vi. at least one polyol and at least one amino acid;     -   vii. at least one carbohydrate and at least one amino acid;     -   viii. at least one amino acid and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive.

Other sweet taste improving composition combinations in accordance with embodiments of this invention include:

-   -   1. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one amino acid;     -   2. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one polyamino acid;     -   3. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one sugar acid;     -   4. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one nucleotide;     -   5. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one organic acid;     -   6. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one inorganic acid;     -   7. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one bitter compound;     -   8. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one flavorant or flavoring ingredient;     -   9. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one polymer;     -   10. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate or protein or protein         hydrolysate with low molecular weight amino acid;     -   11. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one surfactant;     -   12. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   13. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one alcohol;     -   14. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one emulsifier;     -   15. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one inorganic salt,     -   16. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one organic salt,     -   17. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one amino acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   18. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one polyamino acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   19. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one sugar acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   20. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one nucleotide, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   21. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one organic acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   22. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one inorganic acid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   23. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one bitter compound, and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive;     -   24. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one flavorant or flavoring ingredient, and at least one other         sweet taste improving additive;     -   25. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one polymer, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   26. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at least one other sweet         taste improving additive;     -   27. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one surfactant, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   28. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one flavonoid, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   29. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, and at least         one alcohol, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   30. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one polyamino acid;     -   31. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, and at least one sugar         acid;     -   32. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, and at least one nucleotide;     -   33. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, and at least one organic acid;     -   34. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   35. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   36. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one polymer;     -   37. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, at least one bitter compound, at least         one polymer, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   38. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, at least one bitter compound, at least         one polymer, at least one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at         least one surfactant;     -   39. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, at least one bitter compound, at least         one polymer, at least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at         least one surfactant, and at least one flavonoid;     -   40. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, at least one polyamino acid, at least one sugar         acid, at least one nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at         least one inorganic acid, at least one bitter compound, at least         one polymer, at least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at         least one surfactant, at least one flavonoid, and at least one         alcohol;     -   41. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one sugar acid;     -   42. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one nucleotide;     -   43. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one organic acid;     -   44. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one inorganic acid;     -   45. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   46. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one polymer;     -   47. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   48. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one surfactant;     -   49. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one flavonoid;     -   50. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         amino acid, and at least one alcohol;     -   51. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one sugar acid;     -   52. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one nucleotide;     -   53. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one organic acid;     -   54. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one inorganic acid;     -   55. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   56. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one polymer;     -   57. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   58. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one surfactant;     -   59. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one flavonoid;     -   60. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one alcohol;     -   61. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one nucleotide;     -   62. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one organic acid;     -   63. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one inorganic acid;     -   64. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   65. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one polymer;     -   66. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   67. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one surfactant;     -   68. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one flavonoid;     -   69. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         sugar acid, and at least one alcohol;     -   70. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one organic acid;     -   71. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one inorganic acid;     -   72. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one bitter compound;     -   73. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one polymer;     -   74. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   75. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one surfactant;     -   76. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one flavonoid;     -   77. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one alcohol;     -   78. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one inorganic acid;     -   79. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   80. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one polymer;     -   81. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   82. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one surfactant;     -   83. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one flavonoid;     -   84. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         organic acid, and at least one alcohol;     -   85. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   86. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one polymer;     -   87. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   88. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one surfactant;     -   89. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one flavonoid;     -   90. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         inorganic acid, and at least one alcohol;     -   91. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         bitter compound, and at least one polymer;     -   92. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         bitter compound, and at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate;     -   93. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         bitter compound, and at least one surfactant;     -   94. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         bitter compound, and at least one flavonoid;     -   95. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         bitter compound, and at least one alcohol;     -   96. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polymer, and at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   97. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polymer, and at least one surfactant;     -   98. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polymer, and at least one flavonoid;     -   99. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least one         polymer, and at least one alcohol;     -   100. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at least one surfactant;     -   101. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at least one flavonoid;     -   102. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least         one surfactant, and at least one flavonoid;     -   103. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least         one surfactant, and at least one alcohol; and     -   104. at least one polyol, at least one carbohydrate, at least         one flavonoid, and at least one alcohol.

Other sweet taste improving composition combinations in accordance with embodiments of this invention include:

-   -   1. at least one polyol and at least one amino acid;     -   2. at least one polyol and at least one polyamino acid;     -   3. at least one polyol and at least one sugar acid;     -   4. at least one polyol and at least one nucleotide;     -   5. at least one polyol and at least one organic acid;     -   6. at least one polyol and at least one inorganic acid;     -   7. at least one polyol and at least one bitter compound;     -   8. at least one polyol and at least one flavorant or flavoring         ingredient;     -   9. at least one polyol and at least one polymer;     -   10. at least one polyol and at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate;     -   11. at least one polyol and at least one surfactant;     -   12. at least one polyol and at least one flavonoid;     -   13. at least one polyol and at least one alcohol;     -   14. at least one polyol and at least one emulsifier;     -   15. at least one polyol and at least one inorganic salt;     -   16. at least one polyol and at least one organic salt;     -   17. at least one polyol and at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate or mixture of low molecular weight amino acids;     -   18. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   19. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   20. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   21. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   22. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   23. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   24. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   25. at least one polyol, at least one flavorant or flavoring         ingredient, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   26. at least one polyol, at least one polymer, and at least one         other sweet taste improving additive;     -   27. at least one polyol, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   28. at least one polyol, at least one surfactant, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   29. at least one polyol, at least one flavonoid, and at least         one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   30. at least one polyol, at least one alcohol, and at least one         other sweet taste improving additive;     -   31. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one polyamino acid;     -   32. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, and at least one sugar acid;     -   33. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, and at least one         nucleotide;     -   34. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one organic acid;     -   35. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, and at least one         inorganic acid;     -   36. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   37. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, and at least one polymer;     -   38. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   39. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at least one         surfactant;     -   40. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at least one         surfactant, and at least one flavonoid;     -   41. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, at least one         polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at least one         surfactant, at least one flavonoid, and at least one alcohol;     -   42. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one sugar acid;     -   43. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one nucleotide;     -   44. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one organic acid;     -   45. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one inorganic acid;     -   46. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one bitter compound;     -   47. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one polymer;     -   48. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   49. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one surfactant;     -   50. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   51. at least one polyol, at least one amino acid, and at least         one alcohol;     -   52. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one sugar acid;     -   53. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one nucleotide;     -   54. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one organic acid;     -   55. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one organic salt;     -   56. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   57. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one inorganic salt;     -   58. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   59. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one polymer;     -   60. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   61. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one surfactant;     -   62. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   63. at least one polyol, at least one polyamino acid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   64. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one nucleotide;     -   65. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one organic acid;     -   66. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one inorganic acid;     -   67. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one bitter compound;     -   68. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one polymer;     -   69. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   70. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one surfactant;     -   71. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   72. at least one polyol, at least one sugar acid, and at least         one alcohol;     -   73. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one organic acid;     -   74. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one inorganic acid;     -   75. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one bitter compound;     -   76. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one polymer;     -   77. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   78. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one surfactant;     -   79. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   80. at least one polyol, at least one nucleotide, and at least         one alcohol;     -   81. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one inorganic acid;     -   82. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one bitter compound;     -   83. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one polymer;     -   84. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   85. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one surfactant;     -   86. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   87. at least one polyol, at least one organic acid, and at least         one alcohol;     -   88. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   89. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one polymer;     -   90. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   91. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one surfactant;     -   92. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   93. at least one polyol, at least one inorganic acid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   94. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one polymer;     -   95. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   96. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one surfactant;     -   97. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   98. at least one polyol, at least one bitter compound, and at         least one alcohol;     -   99. at least one polyol, at least one polymer, and at least one         protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   100. at least one polyol, at least one polymer, and at least one         surfactant;     -   101. at least one polyol, at least one polymer, and at least one         flavonoid;     -   102. at least one polyol, at least one polymer, and at least one         alcohol;     -   103. at least one polyol, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one surfactant;     -   104. at least one polyol, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one flavonoid;     -   105. at least one polyol, at least one surfactant, and at least         one flavonoid;     -   106. at least one polyol, at least one surfactant, and at least         one alcohol;     -   107. at least one polyol, at least one flavonoid, and at least         one alcohol;     -   108. at least one sweet taste improving additive and erythritol;     -   109. at least one sweet taste improving additive and maltitol;     -   110. at least one sweet taste improving additive and mannitol;     -   111. at least one sweet taste improving additive and sorbitol;     -   112. at least one sweet taste improving additive and lactitol;     -   113. at least one sweet taste improving additive and xylitol;     -   114. at least one sweet taste improving additive and isomalt;     -   115. at least one sweet taste improving additive and propylene         glycol;     -   116. at least one sweet taste improving additive and glycerol;     -   117. at least one sweet taste improving additive and palatinose;     -   118. at least one sweet taste improving additive and reduced         isomalto-oligosaccharides;     -   119. at least one sweet taste improving additive and reduced         xylo-oligosaccharides;     -   120. at least one sweet taste improving additive and reduced         gentio-oligosaccharides;     -   121. at least one sweet taste improving additive and reduced         maltose syrup;     -   122. at least one sweet taste improving additive and reduced         glucose syrup;     -   123. at least one sweet taste improving additive, erythritol,         and at least one other polyol;     -   124. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltitol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   125. at least one sweet taste improving additive, mannitol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   126. at least one sweet taste improving additive, sorbitol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   127. at least one sweet taste improving additive, lactitol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   128. at least one sweet taste improving additive, xylitol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   129. at least one sweet taste improving additive, isomalt, and         at least one other polyol;     -   130. at least one sweet taste improving additive, propylene         glycol, and at least one other polyol;     -   131. at least one sweet taste improving additive, glycerol, and         at least one other polyol;     -   132. at least one sweet taste improving additive, palatinose,         and at least one other polyol;     -   133. at least one sweet taste improving additive, reduced         isomalto-oligosaccharides, and at least one other polyol;     -   134. at least one sweet taste improving additive, reduced         xylo-oligosaccharides, and at least one other polyol;     -   135. at least one sweet taste improving additive, reduced         gentio-oligosaccharides, and at least one other polyol;     -   136. at least one sweet taste improving additive, reduced         maltose syrup, and at least one other polyol; and     -   137. at least one sweet taste improving additive, reduced         glucose syrup, and at least one other polyol.

Other sweet taste improving composition combinations in accordance with embodiments of this invention include:

-   -   1. at least one polyol and tagatose;     -   2. at least one polyol and trehalose;     -   3. at least one polyol and galactose;     -   4. at least one polyol and rhamnose;     -   5. at least one polyol and dextrin;     -   6. at least one polyol and cyclodextrin;     -   7. at least one polyol and α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, or         γ-cyclodextrin;     -   8. at least one polyol and maltodextrin;     -   9. at least one polyol and dextran;     -   10. at least one polyol and sucrose;     -   11. at least one polyol and glucose;     -   12. at least one polyol and fructose;     -   13. at least one polyol and threose;     -   14. at least one polyol and arabinose;     -   15. at least one polyol and xylose;     -   16. at least one polyol and lyxose;     -   17. at least one polyol and allose;     -   18. at least one polyol and altrose;     -   19. at least one polyol and mannose;     -   20. at least one polyol and idose;     -   21. at least one polyol and talose;     -   22. at least one polyol and lactose;     -   23. at least one polyol and maltose;     -   24. at least one polyol and invert sugar;     -   25. at least one polyol and trehalose;     -   26. at least one polyol and isotrehalose;     -   27. at least one polyol and neotrehalose;     -   28. at least one polyol and palatinose;     -   29. at least one polyol and galactose;     -   30. at least one polyol and beet oligosaccharides;     -   31. at least one polyol and isomalto-oligosaccharides;     -   32. at least one polyol and isomaltose;     -   33. at least one polyol and isomaltotriose;     -   34. at least one polyol and panose;     -   35. at least one polyol and xylo-oligosaccharides;     -   36. at least one polyol and xylotriose;     -   37. at least one polyol and xylobiose;     -   38. at least one polyol and gentio-oligoscaccharides;     -   39. at least one polyol and gentiobiose;     -   40. at least one polyol and gentiotriose;     -   41. at least one polyol and gentiotetraose;     -   42. at least one polyol and sorbose;     -   43. at least one polyol and nigero-oligosaccharides;     -   44. at least one polyol and palatinose oligosaccharides;     -   45. at least one polyol and fucose;     -   46. at least one polyol and fructooligosaccharides;     -   47. at least one polyol and kestose;     -   48. at least one polyol and nystose;     -   49. at least one polyol and maltotetraol;     -   50. at least one polyol and maltotriol;     -   51. at least one polyol and malto-oligosaccharides;     -   52. at least one polyol and maltotriose;     -   53. at least one polyol and maltotetraose;     -   54. at least one polyol and maltopentaose;     -   55. at least one polyol and maltohexaose;     -   56. at least one polyol and maltoheptaose;     -   57. at least one polyol and lactulose;     -   58. at least one polyol and melibiose;     -   59. at least one polyol and raffinose;     -   60. at least one polyol and rhamnose;     -   61. at least one polyol and ribose;     -   62. at least one polyol and isomerized liquid sugars;     -   63. at least one polyol and high fructose corn syrup (e.g.         HFCS55 and HFCS42) or starch syrup;     -   64. at least one polyol and coupling sugars;     -   65. at least one polyol and soybean oligosaccharides;     -   66. at least one polyol and glucose syrup;     -   67. at least one polyol, tagatose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   68. at least one polyol, trehalose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   69. at least one polyol, galactose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   70. at least one polyol, rhamnose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   71. at least one polyol, dextrin, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   72. at least one polyol, cyclodextrin, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   73. at least one polyol, β-cyclodextrin, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   74. at least one polyol, maltodextrin, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   75. at least one polyol, dextran, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   76. at least one polyol, sucrose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   77. at least one polyol, glucose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   78. at least one polyol, fructose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   79. at least one polyol, threose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   80. at least one polyol, arabinose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   81. at least one polyol, xylose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   82. at least one polyol, lyxose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   83. at least one polyol, allose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   84. at least one polyol, altrose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   85. at least one polyol, mannose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   86. at least one polyol, idose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   87. at least one polyol, talose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   88. at least one polyol, lactose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   89. at least one polyol, maltose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   90. at least one polyol, invert sugar, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   91. at least one polyol, trehalose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   92. at least one polyol, isotrehalose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   93. at least one polyol, neotrehalose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   94. at least one polyol, palatinose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   95. at least one polyol, galactose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   96. at least one polyol, beet oligosaccharides, and at least one         other carbohydrate;     -   97. at least one polyol, isomalto-oligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   98. at least one polyol, isomaltose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   99. at least one polyol, isomaltotriose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   100. at least one polyol, panose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   101. at least one polyol, xylo-oligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   102. at least one polyol, xylotriose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   103. at least one polyol, xylobiose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   104. at least one polyol, gentio-oligoscaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   105. at least one polyol, gentiobiose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   106. at least one polyol, gentiotriose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   107. at least one polyol, gentiotetraose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   108. at least one polyol, sorbose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   109. at least one polyol, nigero-oligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   110. at least one polyol, palatinose oligosaccharides, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   111. at least one polyol, fucose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   112. at least one polyol, fructooligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   113. at least one polyol, kestose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   114. at least one polyol, nystose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   115. at least one polyol, maltotetraol, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   116. at least one polyol, maltotriol, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   117. at least one polyol, malto-oligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   118. at least one polyol, maltotriose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   119. at least one polyol, maltotetraose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   120. at least one polyol, maltopentaose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   121. at least one polyol, maltohexaose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   122. at least one polyol, maltoheptaose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   123. at least one polyol, lactulose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   124. at least one polyol, melibiose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   125. at least one polyol, raffinose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   126. at least one polyol, rhamnose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   127. at least one polyol, ribose, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   128. at least one polyol, isomerized liquid sugars, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   129. at least one polyol, high fructose corn syrup (e.g. HFCS55         and HFCS42) or starch syrup, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   130. at least one polyol, coupling sugars, and at least one         other carbohydrate;     -   131. at least one polyol, soybean oligosaccharides, and at least         one other carbohydrate;     -   132. at least one polyol, glucose syrup, and at least one other         carbohydrate;     -   133. at least one carbohydrate and erythritol;     -   134. at least one carbohydrate and maltitol;     -   135. at least one carbohydrate and mannitol;     -   136. at least one carbohydrate and sorbitol;     -   137. at least one carbohydrate and lactitol;     -   138. at least one carbohydrate and xylitol;     -   139. at least one carbohydrate and isomalt;     -   140. at least one carbohydrate and propylene glycol;     -   141. at least one carbohydrate and glycerol;     -   142. at least one carbohydrate and palatinose;     -   143. at least one carbohydrate and reduced         isomalto-oligosaccharides;     -   144. at least one carbohydrate and reduced         xylo-oligosaccharides;     -   145. at least one carbohydrate and reduced         gentio-oligosaccharides;     -   146. at least one carbohydrate and reduced maltose syrup;     -   147. at least one carbohydrate and reduced glucose syrup;     -   148. at least one carbohydrate, erythritol, and at least one         other polyol;     -   149. at least one carbohydrate, maltitol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   150. at least one carbohydrate, mannitol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   151. at least one carbohydrate, sorbitol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   152. at least one carbohydrate, lactitol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   153. at least one carbohydrate, xylitol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   154. at least one carbohydrate, isomalt, and at least one other         polyol;     -   155. at least one carbohydrate, propylene glycol, and at least         one other polyol;     -   156. at least one carbohydrate, glycerol, and at least one other         polyol;     -   157. at least one carbohydrate, palatinose, and at least one         other polyol;     -   158. at least one carbohydrate, reduced         isomalto-oligosaccharides, and at least one other polyol;     -   159. at least one carbohydrate, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides,         and at least one other polyol;     -   160. at least one carbohydrate, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides,         and at least one other polyol;     -   161. at least one carbohydrate, reduced maltose syrup, and at         least one other polyol; and     -   162. at least one carbohydrate, reduced glucose syrup, and at         least one other polyol.

Other sweet taste improving composition combinations in accordance with embodiments of this invention include:

-   -   1. at least one carbohydrate and at least one amino acid;     -   2. at least one carbohydrate and at least one polyamino acid;     -   3. at least one carbohydrate and at least one sugar acid;     -   4. at least one carbohydrate and at least one nucleotide;     -   5. at least one carbohydrate and at least one organic acid;     -   6. at least one carbohydrate and at least one inorganic acid;     -   7. at least one carbohydrate and at least one bitter compound;     -   8. at least one carbohydrate and at least one flavorant or         flavoring ingredient;     -   9. at least one carbohydrate and at least one polymer;     -   10. at least one carbohydrate and at least one protein or         protein hydrolysate;     -   11. at least one carbohydrate and at least one surfactant;     -   12. at least one carbohydrate and at least one flavonoid;     -   13. at least one carbohydrate and at least one alcohol;     -   14. at least one carbohydrate and at least one protein or         protein hydrolysate or mixture of low molecular weight amino         acids;     -   15. at least one carbohydrate and at least one emulsifier;     -   16. at least one carbohydrate and at least one inorganic salt;     -   17. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   18. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   19. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   20. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   21. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   22. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   23. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   24. at least one carbohydrate, at least one flavorant or         flavoring ingredient, and at least one other sweet taste         improving additive;     -   25. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polymer, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   26. at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one other sweet taste improving         additive;     -   27. at least one carbohydrate, at least one surfactant, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   28. at least one carbohydrate, at least one flavonoid, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   29. at least one carbohydrate, at least one alcohol, and at         least one other sweet taste improving additive;     -   30. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one polyamino acid;     -   31. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, and at least one sugar acid;     -   32. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, and at least one         nucleotide;     -   33. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, and at least one organic acid;     -   34. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, and at least one         inorganic acid;     -   35. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, and at least one bitter compound;     -   36. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, and at least one polymer;     -   37. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   38. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, and at least one         surfactant;     -   39. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at least one         surfactant, and at least one flavonoid;     -   40. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, at least         one polyamino acid, at least one sugar acid, at least one         nucleotide, at least one organic acid, at least one inorganic         acid, at least one bitter compound, at least one polymer, at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate, at least one         surfactant, at least one flavonoid, and at least one alcohol;     -   41. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one sugar acid;     -   42. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one nucleotide;     -   43. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one organic acid;     -   44. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   45. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   46. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one polymer;     -   47. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   48. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one surfactant;     -   49. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   50. at least one carbohydrate, at least one amino acid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   51. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one sugar acid;     -   52. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one nucleotide;     -   53. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one organic acid;     -   54. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one inorganic acid;     -   55. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one bitter compound;     -   56. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one polymer;     -   57. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   58. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one surfactant;     -   59. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one flavonoid;     -   60. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polyamino acid, and         at least one alcohol;     -   61. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one nucleotide;     -   62. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one organic acid;     -   63. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   64. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   65. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one polymer;     -   66. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   67. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one surfactant;     -   68. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   69. at least one carbohydrate, at least one sugar acid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   70. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one organic acid;     -   71. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   72. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   73. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one polymer;     -   74. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   75. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one surfactant;     -   76. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   77. at least one carbohydrate, at least one nucleotide, and at         least one alcohol;     -   78. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one inorganic acid;     -   79. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one bitter compound;     -   80. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one polymer;     -   81. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   82. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one surfactant;     -   83. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   84. at least one carbohydrate, at least one organic acid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   85. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one bitter compound;     -   86. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one polymer;     -   87. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   88. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one surfactant;     -   89. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one flavonoid;     -   90. at least one carbohydrate, at least one inorganic acid, and         at least one alcohol;     -   91. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one polymer;     -   92. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   93. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one surfactant;     -   94. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one flavonoid;     -   95. at least one carbohydrate, at least one bitter compound, and         at least one alcohol;     -   96. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polymer, and at         least one protein or protein hydrolysate;     -   97. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polymer, and at         least one surfactant;     -   98. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polymer, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   99. at least one carbohydrate, at least one polymer, and at         least one alcohol;     -   100. at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one surfactant;     -   101. at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein or protein         hydrolysate, and at least one flavonoid;     -   102. at least one carbohydrate, at least one surfactant, and at         least one flavonoid;     -   103. at least one carbohydrate, at least one surfactant, and at         least one alcohol;     -   104. at least one carbohydrate, at least one flavonoid, and at         least one alcohol;     -   105. at least one sweet taste improving additive and D-tagatose;     -   106. at least one sweet taste improving additive and trehalose;     -   107. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         D-galactose;     -   108. at least one sweet taste improving additive and rhamnose;     -   109. at least one sweet taste improving additive and dextrin;     -   110. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         cyclodextrin;     -   111. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         β-cyclodextrin;     -   112. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltodextrin;     -   113. at least one sweet taste improving additive and dextran;     -   114. at least one sweet taste improving additive and sucrose;     -   115. at least one sweet taste improving additive and glucose;     -   116. at least one sweet taste improving additive and fructose;     -   117. at least one sweet taste improving additive and threose;     -   118. at least one sweet taste improving additive and arabinose;     -   119. at least one sweet taste improving additive and xylose;     -   120. at least one sweet taste improving additive and lyxose;     -   121. at least one sweet taste improving additive and allose;     -   122. at least one sweet taste improving additive and altrose;     -   123. at least one sweet taste improving additive and mannose;     -   124. at least one sweet taste improving additive and idose;     -   125. at least one sweet taste improving additive and talose;     -   126. at least one sweet taste improving additive and lactose;     -   127. at least one sweet taste improving additive and maltose;     -   128. at least one sweet taste improving additive and invert         sugar;     -   129. at least one sweet taste improving additive and trehalose;     -   130. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         isotrehalose;     -   131. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         neotrehalose;     -   132. at least one sweet taste improving additive and palatinose;     -   133. at least one sweet taste improving additive and galactose;     -   134. at least one sweet taste improving additive and beet         oligosaccharides;     -   135. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         isomalto-oligosaccharides;     -   136. at least one sweet taste improving additive and isomaltose;     -   137. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         isomaltotriose;     -   138. at least one sweet taste improving additive and panose;     -   139. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         xylo-oligosaccharides;     -   140. at least one sweet taste improving additive and xylotriose;     -   141. at least one sweet taste improving additive and xylobiose;     -   142. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         gentio-oligoscaccharides;     -   143. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         gentiobiose;     -   144. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         gentiotriose;     -   145. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         gentiotetraose;     -   146. at least one sweet taste improving additive and sorbose;     -   147. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         nigero-oligosaccharides;     -   148. at least one sweet taste improving additive and palatinose         oligosaccharides;     -   149. at least one sweet taste improving additive and fucose;     -   150. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         fructooligosaccharides;     -   151. at least one sweet taste improving additive and kestose;     -   152. at least one sweet taste improving additive and nystose;     -   153. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltotetraol;     -   154. at least one sweet taste improving additive and maltotriol;     -   155. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         malto-oligosaccharides;     -   156. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltotriose;     -   157. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltotetraose;     -   158. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltopentaose;     -   159. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltohexaose;     -   160. at least one sweet taste improving additive and         maltoheptaose;     -   161. at least one sweet taste improving additive and lactulose;     -   162. at least one sweet taste improving additive and melibiose;     -   163. at least one sweet taste improving additive and raffinose;     -   164. at least one sweet taste improving additive and rhamnose;     -   165. at least one sweet taste improving additive and ribose;     -   166. at least one sweet taste improving additive and isomerized         liquid sugars;     -   167. at least one sweet taste improving additive and high         fructose corn syrup (e.g., HFCS55 and HFCS42) or starch syrup;     -   168. at least one sweet taste improving additive and coupling         sugars;     -   169. at least one sweet taste improving additive and soybean         oligosaccharides;     -   170. at least one sweet taste improving additive and glucose         syrup;     -   171. at least one sweet taste improving additive, D-tagatose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   172. at least one sweet taste improving additive, trehalose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   173. at least one sweet taste improving additive, D-galactose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   174. at least one sweet taste improving additive, rhamnose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   175. at least one sweet taste improving additive, dextrin, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   176. at least one sweet taste improving additive, cyclodextrin,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   177. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         β-cyclodextrin, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   178. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltodextrin,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   179. at least one sweet taste improving additive, dextran, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   180. at least one sweet taste improving additive, sucrose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   181. at least one sweet taste improving additive, glucose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   182. at least one sweet taste improving additive, fructose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   183. at least one sweet taste improving additive, threose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   184. at least one sweet taste improving additive, arabinose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   185. at least one sweet taste improving additive, xylose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   186. at least one sweet taste improving additive, lyxose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   187. at least one sweet taste improving additive, allose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   188. at least one sweet taste improving additive, altrose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   189. at least one sweet taste improving additive, mannose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   190. at least one sweet taste improving additive, idose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   191. at least one sweet taste improving additive, talose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   192. at least one sweet taste improving additive, lactose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   193. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   194. at least one sweet taste improving additive, invert sugar,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   195. at least one sweet taste improving additive, trehalose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   196. at least one sweet taste improving additive, isotrehalose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   197. at least one sweet taste improving additive, neotrehalose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   198. at least one sweet taste improving additive, palatinose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   199. at least one sweet taste improving additive, galactose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   200. at least one sweet taste improving additive, beet         oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   201. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         isomalto-oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   202. at least one sweet taste improving additive, isomaltose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   203. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         isomaltotriose, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   204. at least one sweet taste improving additive, panose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   205. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         xylo-oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   206. at least one sweet taste improving additive, xylotriose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   207. at least one sweet taste improving additive, xylobiose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   208. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         gentio-oligoscaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   209. at least one sweet taste improving additive, gentiobiose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   210. at least one sweet taste improving additive, gentiotriose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   211. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         gentiotetraose, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   212. at least one sweet taste improving additive, sorbose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   213. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         nigero-oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   214. at least one sweet taste improving additive, palatinose         oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   215. at least one sweet taste improving additive, fucose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   216. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         fructooligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   217. at least one sweet taste improving additive, kestose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   218. at least one sweet taste improving additive, nystose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   219. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltotetraol,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   220. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltotriol,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   221. at least one sweet taste improving additive,         malto-oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   222. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltotriose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   223. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltotetraose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   224. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltopentaose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   225. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltohexaose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   226. at least one sweet taste improving additive, maltoheptaose,         and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   227. at least one sweet taste improving additive, lactulose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   228. at least one sweet taste improving additive, melibiose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   229. at least one sweet taste improving additive, raffinose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   230. at least one sweet taste improving additive, rhamnose, and         at least one other carbohydrate;     -   231. at least one sweet taste improving additive, ribose, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   232. at least one sweet taste improving additive, isomerized         liquid sugars, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   233. at least one sweet taste improving additive, high fructose         corn syrup (e.g. HFCS55 and HFCS42) or starch syrup, and at         least one other carbohydrate;     -   234. at least one sweet taste improving additive, coupling         sugars, and at least one other carbohydrate;     -   235. at least one sweet taste improving additive, soybean         oligosaccharides, and at least one other carbohydrate; and     -   236. at least one sweet taste improving additive, glucose syrup,         and at least one other carbohydrate.

In another embodiment, the dairy composition comprises at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and a dairy product in combination with a plurality of sweet taste improving additives, desirably 3 or more sweet taste improving additives, and even more desirably 4 or more sweet taste improving additives, wherein each sweet taste improving additive is present in an amount such that no one sweet taste improving additive imparts a substantial off taste to the sweetener composition. In other words, the amounts of the sweet taste improving additives in the sweetener composition are balanced so that no one sweet taste improving additive imparts a substantial off taste to the sweetener composition.

According to a particular embodiment of this invention, the sweetener composition provided herein comprises at least one sweet taste improving composition in the sweetener composition in an amount effective for the sweetener composition to impart an osmolarity of at least 10 mOsmoles/L to an aqueous solution of the sweetener composition, wherein the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener is present in the aqueous solution in an amount sufficient to impart a maximum sweetness intensity equivalent to that of a 10% aqueous solution of sucrose by weight. As used herein, “mOsmoles/L” refers to milliosmoles per liter. According to another embodiment, the sweetener composition comprises at least one sweet taste improving composition in an amount effective for the sweetener composition to impart an osmolarity of 10 to 500 mOsmoles/L, preferably 25 to 500 mOsmoles/L preferably, more preferably 100 to 500 mOsmoles/L, more preferably 200 to 500 mOsmoles/L, and still more preferably 300 to 500 mOsmoles/L to an aqueous solution of the sweetener composition, wherein the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener is present in the aqueous solution in an amount sufficient to impart a maximum sweetness intensity equivalent to that of a 10% aqueous solution of sucrose by weight. Wherein a plurality of sweet taste improving compositions are combined with at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, the osmolarity imparted is that of the total combination of the plurality of sweet taste improving compositions.

Osmolarity refers to the measure of osmoles of solute per liter of solution, wherein osmole is equal to the number of moles of osmotically active particles in an ideal solution (e.g., a mole of glucose is one osmole), whereas a mole of sodium chloride is two osmoles (one mole of sodium and one mole of chloride). Thus, in order to improve in the quality of taste of the sweetener composition, the osmotically active compounds or the compounds which impart osmolarity must not introduce significant off taste to the formulation.

In one embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives for the present invention have a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 and desirably have a molecular weight from 50 to 500. In particular embodiments, suitable carbohydrates with a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 include, but are not limited to, sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, lactose, mannose, galactose, and tagatose. Generally, in accordance with desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm. (Throughout this specification, the term ppm means parts per million by weight or volume. For example, 500 ppm means 500 mg in a liter.) In accordance with other desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in the sweetened compositions in an amount from about 2,500 to about 10,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 50 to about 500.

In one embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving polyol additives have a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 and desirably have a molecular weight from 76 to 500. In particular embodiments, suitable sweet taste improving polyol additives with a molecular weight less than or equal to 500 include, but are not limited to, erythritol, glycerol, and propylene glycol. Generally, in accordance with desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 80,000 ppm. In accordance with other desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in sweetened compositions in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm. In a sub-embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving polyol additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving polyol additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 76 to about 500.

In accordance with still other desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in sweetener compositions in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the total sweetener composition, more particularly from about about 5,000 to about 40,000 ppm, and still more particularly from about 10,000 to about 35,000 ppm. Desirably, the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive are present in the sweetener composition in a ratio from about 1:4 to about 1:800, respectively; more particularly from about 1:20 to about 1:600; even more particularly from about 1:50 to about 1:300; and still more particularly from about 1:75 to about 1:150.

Generally, in accordance with another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving alcohol additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 625 to about 10,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving alcohol additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving alcohol additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 46 to about 500. A non-limiting example of sweet taste improving alcohol additive with a molecular weight ranging from about 46 to about 500 includes ethanol.

In one embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid additives have a molecular weight of less than or equal to 250 and desirably have a molecular weight from 75 to 250. In particular embodiments, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid additives with a molecular weight less than or equal to 250 include, but are not limited to, glycine, alanine, serine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, theanine, and threonine. Preferred sweet taste improving amino acid additives include those which are sweet tasting at high concentrations, but desirably are present in embodiments of this invention at amounts below or above their sweetness taste detection threshold. Even more preferred are mixtures of sweet taste improving amino acid additives at amounts below or above their sweetness taste detection threshold. Generally, in accordance with desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 25,000 ppm, more particularly from about 1,000 to about 10,000 ppm, and still more particularly from about 2,500 to about 5,000 ppm. In accordance with other desirable embodiments of this invention, a sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in the sweetened compositions in an amount from about 250 ppm to about 7,500 ppm. In a sub-embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving amino acid additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 250.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving amino acid salt additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 25 to about 10,000 ppm, more particularly from about 1,000 to about 7,500 ppm, and still more particularly from about 2,500 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300 include salts of glycine, alanine, serine, theanine, and threonine.

Generally, in accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving protein or protein hydroyslate additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 200 to about 50,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300 include proteins or protein hydrolysates containing glycine, alanine, serine, and threonine.

Generally, in accordance with another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 25 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, phosphoric acid, HCl, and H₂SO₄ and any other inorganic acid additives which are safe for human or animal consumption when used in a generally acceptable range. In a sub-embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving inorganic acid additives with a molecular weight range from about 36 to about 98.

Generally, in accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 25 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, salts of inorganic acids, for example sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts of phosphoric acid, and any other alkali or alkaline earth metal salts of other inorganic acids (e.g., sodium bisulfate) which are safe for human or animal consumption when used in a generally acceptable range. In a sub-embodiment, suitable suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives with a molecular weight range from about 58 to about 120.

Generally, in accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving organic acid additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 10 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving organic acid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, creatine, citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, hydroxycitric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, and any other sweet taste improving organic acid additives which are safe for human or animal consumption when used in a generally acceptable range. In one embodiment, the sweet taste improving organic acid additive comprises a molecular weight range from about 60 to about 208.

Generally, in accordance with still another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving organic acid salt additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 20 to about 10,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving organic acid salt additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, salts of sweet taste improving organic acid additives, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other alkali or alkaline metal salts of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, hydroxycitric acid, succinic acid, and salts of any other sweet taste improving organic acid additives which are safe for human or animal consumption when used in a generally acceptable range. In one embodiment, the sweet taste improving organic acid salt additive comprises a molecular weight range from about 140 to about 208.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving organic base salt additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 10 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving organic base salt additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, inorganic and organic acid salts of organic bases such as glucosamine salts, choline salts, and guanidine salts.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving astringent additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 25 to about 1,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving astringent additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, tannic acid, tea polyphenols, catechins, aluminum sulfate, AlNa(SO₄)₂, AlK(SO₄)₂ and other forms of alum.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving nucleotide additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 5 to about 1,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving nucleotide additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, adenosine monophosphate.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving polyamino acid additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 30 to about 2,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving polyamino acid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), poly-L-ornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-L-ε-ornithine), and poly-L-arginine.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving polymer additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 30 to about 2,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving polymer additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, chitosan, sodium hexametaphosphate and its salts, pectin, hydrocolloids such as gum acacia senegal, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether).

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving surfactant additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 1 to about 5,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving surfactant additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, polysorbates, choline chloride, sodium taurocholate, lecithins, sucrose oleate esters, sucrose stearate esters, sucrose palmitate esters, and sucrlose laurate esters.

Generally, in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, a suitable sweet taste improving flavonoid additive is present in the sweetener compositions in an amount from about 0.1 to about 1,000 ppm. In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving flavonoid additives for imparting osmolarities ranging from about 10 mOsmoles/L to about 500 mOsmoles/L to a sweetenable composition include, but are not limited to, naringin, catechins, rutins, neohesperidin, and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone.

In a preferred embodiment, non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving compositions enhancing the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener's osmotic taste to be more sugar-like include sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives, sweet taste improving alcohol additives, sweet taste improving polyol additives, sweet taste improving amino acid additives, sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives, sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives, sweet taste improving polymer additives, and sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives for improving the osmotic taste of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 50 to about 500. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving carbohydrate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 50 to about 500 include sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, lactose, mannose, galactose, ribose, rhamnose, trehalose, HFCS, and tagatose.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving polyol additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving polyol additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 76 to about 500. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving polyol additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 76 to about 500 include erythritol, glycerol, and propylene glycol. In a sub-embodiment, other suitable sweet taste improving polyol additives include sugar alcohols.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving alcohol additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving alcohol additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 46 to about 500. A non-limiting example of sweet taste improving alcohol additive with a molecular weight ranging from about 46 to about 500 includes ethanol.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving amino acid additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 250. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving amino acid additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 250 include glycine, alanine, serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, glutamine, theanine, and threonine.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving amino acid salt additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300 include salts of glycine, alanine, serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, glutamine, theanine, and threonine.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300. Non-limiting examples of sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additives with a molecular weight ranging from about 75 to about 300 include protein or protein hydrolysates containing glycine, alanine, serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, proline, and threonine.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives for improving the osmotic taste of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, KH₂PO₄ and NaH₂PO₄. Suitable sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additives for improving the osmotic taste may comprise a molecular weight from about 58 to about 120.

In another embodiment, suitable sweet taste improving bitter additives for improving the osmotic taste of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to be more sugar-like include, but are not limited to, caffeine, quinine, urea, quassia, tannic acid, and naringin.

IV. DAIRY COMPOSITIONS

In one embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving nucleotide additive chosen from inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, nucleosides thereof, nucleic acid bases thereof, or salts thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerine), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyamino acid additive chosen from poly-L-aspartic acid, poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), poly-L-ornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-L-ε-ornithine), poly-L-arginine, other polymeric forms of amino acids, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving sugar acid additive chosen from aldonic, uronic, aldaric, alginic, gluconic, glucuronic, glucaric, galactaric, galacturonic, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving organic acid additive chosen from C2-C30 carboxylic acids, substituted hydroxyl C1-C30 carboxylic acids, benzoic acid, substituted benzoic acids (e.g., 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid), substituted cinnamic acids, hydroxyacids, substituted hydroxybenzoic acids, substituted cyclohexyl carboxylic acids, tannic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, glucoheptonic acids, glutaric acid, creatine, adipic acid, hydroxycitric acid, malic acid, fruitaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, caffeic acid, bile acids, acetic acid, ascorbic acid, alginic acid, erythorbic acid, polyglutamic acid, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid additive chosen from phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, polyphosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving bitter compound additive chosen from caffeine, quinine, urea, bitter orange oil, naringin, quassia, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving flavorant additive chosen from vanillin, vanilla extract, mango extract, cinnamon, citrus, coconut, ginger, viridiflorol, almond, menthol, grape skin extract, or grape seed extract. In another particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving flavorant additive comprises a proprietary sweetener chosen from Döhler™ Natural Flavoring Sweetness Enhancer K14323 (Döhler™, Darmstadt, Germany), Symrise™ Natural Flavor Mask for Sweeteners 161453 or 164126 (Symrise™, Holzminden, Germany), Natural Advantage™ Bitterness Blockers 1, 2, 9 or 10 (Natural Advantage™, Freehold, N.J., U.S.A.), or Sucramask™ (Creative Research Management, Stockton, Calif., U.S.A.)

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polymer additive chosen from chitosan, pectin, pectic, pectinic, polyuronic, polygalacturonic acid, starch, food hydrocolloid or crude extracts thereof (e.g., gum acacia senegal, gum acacia seyal, carageenan), poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), polyornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-ε-ornithine), polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether), polyarginine, polyaspartic acid, polyglutamic acid, polyethyleneimine, alginic acid, sodium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, sodium polyethyleneglycolalginate, sodium hexametaphosphate and its salts, or other cationic and anionic polymers.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving protein hydrolysate additive chosen from bovine serum albumin (BSA), whey protein (including fractions or concentrates thereof such as 90% instant whey protein isolate, 34% whey protein, 50% hydrolyzed whey protein, and 80% whey protein concentrate), soluble rice protein, soy protein, protein isolates, protein hydrolysates, reaction products of protein hydrolysates, glycoproteins, and/or proteoglycans containing amino acids (e.g., glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, theanine, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, norvaline, methionine, proline, tyrosine, hydroxyproline, or the like).

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving surfactant additive chosen from polysorbates (e.g., polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80), polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate or dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium, sodium dodecyl sulfate, cetylpyridinium chloride, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, sodium cholate, carbamoyl, choline chloride, sodium glycocholate, sodium taurocholate, sodium taurodeoxycholate, lauric arginate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, lecithins, sucrose oleate esters, sucrose stearate esters, sucrose palmitate esters, sucrose laurate esters, and other emulsifiers, or the like.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving flavonoid additive chosen from catechins, polyphenols, rutins, neohesperidin, naringin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, or the like.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with ethanol.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving astringent compound additive chosen from tannic acid, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), alum, tannic acid, and polyphenols (e.g., tea polyphenol).

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive chosen from sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, alum, magnesium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid, salts of hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate or sodium bicarbonate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving organic salt additive chosen from choline chloride, gluconic acid sodium salt, gluconic acid potassium salt, guanidine HCl, amiloride HCl, glucosamine HCl, monosodium glutamate (MSG), adenosine monophosphate salt, magnesium gluconate, potassium tartrate, and sodium tartrate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving nucleotide additive, at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive, and at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive; wherein the at least one nucleotide additive is chosen from inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, nucleosides thereof, nucleic acid bases thereof, or salts thereof; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving nucleotide additive and at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive; wherein the at least one nucleotide additive is chosen from inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, nucleosides thereof, nucleic acid bases thereof, or salts thereof; and wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, genetiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving nucleotide additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive; wherein the at least one nucleotide additive is chosen from inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, nucleosides thereof, nucleic acid bases thereof, or salts thereof; and wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerine), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving nucleotide additive and at least one sweet taste improving amino acid; wherein the at least one nucleotide additive is chosen from inosine monophosphate (“IMP”), guanosine monophosphate (“GMP”), adenosine monophosphate (“AMP”), cytosine monophosphate (CMP), uracil monophosphate (UMP), inosine diphosphate, guanosine diphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, cytosine diphosphate, uracil diphosphate, inosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, adenosine triphosphate, cytosine triphosphate, uracil triphosphate, nucleosides thereof, nucleic acid bases thereof, or salts thereof; and wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive, at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive, and at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerine), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol (glycerine), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive and at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive and at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive; wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerin), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive; wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerin), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one inorganic salt additive is chosen from sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium sulfate, alum, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid, salts of hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate, or sodium bicarbonate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one inorganic salt additive is chosen from sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, alum, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid, salts of hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate, or sodium bicarbonate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive, at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive, and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive; wherein the at least one carbohydrate additive is chosen from tagatose, trehalose, galactose, rhamnose, cyclodextrin (e.g., α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin), maltodextrin (including resistant maltodextrins such as Fibersol-2™), dextran, sucrose, glucose, ribulose, fructose, threose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, mannose, idose, lactose, maltose, invert sugar, isotrehalose, neotrehalose, palatinose or isomaltulose, erythrose, deoxyribose, gulose, idose, talose, erythrulose, xylulose, psicose, turanose, cellobiose, amylopectin, glucosamine, mannosamine, fucose, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucono-lactone, abequose, galactosamine, beet oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides (isomaltose, isomaltotriose, panose and the like), xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose, xylobiose and the like), gentio-oligoscaccharides (gentiobiose, gentiotriose, gentiotetraose and the like), sorbose, nigero-oligosaccharides, palatinose oligosaccharides, fucose, fructooligosaccharides (kestose, nystose and the like), maltotetraol, maltotriol, malto-oligosaccharides (maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and the like), lactulose, melibiose, raffinose, rhamnose, ribose, isomerized liquid sugars such as high fructose corn/starch syrup (e.g., HFCS55, HFCS42, HFCS90), coupling sugars, soybean oligosaccharides, or glucose syrup; wherein the at least one amino acid additive is chosen from aspartic acid, arginine, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, threonine, theanine, cysteine, cystine, alanine, valine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, asparagine, serine, lysine, histidine, ornithine, methionine, carnitine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, and gamma-isomers), glutamine, hydroxyproline, taurine, norvaline, sarcosine, or salts thereof; and wherein the at least one inorganic salt additive is chosen from sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, alum, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid, salts of hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate, or sodium bicarbonate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyamino acid additive; wherein the at least one polyol additive is chosen from erythritol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, lactitol, xylitol, inositol, isomalt, propylene glycol, glycerol(glycerin), threitol, galactitol, palatinose, reduced isomalto-oligosaccharides, reduced xylo-oligosaccharides, reduced gentio-oligosaccharides, reduced maltose syrup, or reduced glucose syrup; and wherein the at least one polyamino acid additive is chosen from poly-L-aspartic acid, poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), poly-L-ornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-L-ε-ornithine), poly-L-arginine, and other polymeric forms of amino acids, or salts thereof.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener in combination with at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive; wherein the at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is chosen from bovine serum albumin (BSA), whey protein (including fractions or concentrates thereof such as 90% instant whey protein isolate, 34% whey protein, 50% hydrolyzed whey protein, and 80% whey protein concentrate), soluble rice protein, soy protein, protein isolates, protein hydrolysates, reaction products of protein hydrolysates, glycoproteins, and/or proteoglycans containing amino acids (e.g., glycine, alanine, serine, threonine, theanine, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, norvaline, methionine, proline, tyrosine, hydroxyproline, or the like), collagen (e.g., gelatin), partially hydrolyzed collagen (e.g., hydrolyzed fish collagen), and collagen hydrolysates (e.g., porcine collagen hydrolysate); and wherein the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive is chosen from sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, potassium citrate, europium chloride (EuCl₃), gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃), terbium chloride (TbCl₃), magnesium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, alum, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, mono-, di-, tri-basic sodium or potassium salts of phosphoric acid, salts of hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium bisulfate, or sodium bicarbonate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and rebaudioside A in combination with at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener other than rebaudioside-A and at least one sweet taste improving composition.

In another particular embodiment, a dairy composition is provided comprising a dairy product and rebaudioside A in combination with at least one synthetic high-potency sweetener, wherein the at least one synthetic high-potency sweetener functions as a sweet taste improving composition. Non-limiting examples of suitable sweet taste improving synthetic sweetener additives include sucralose, potassium acesulfame, aspartame, alitame, saccharin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, cyclamate, neotame, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, N—[N-[3-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-α-aspartyl]-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester, salts thereof, and the like.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, cyclamate, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 ppm to about 25,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. In a still more particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is glycine or alanine, and the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is erythritol.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 15,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is present in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of the composition. In a still more particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is glycine or lysine, and the at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is a protein, a hydrolysate, or a reaction product of a hydrolysate of a protein containing glycine, alanine, serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, proline, or threonine.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is present in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of the composition, and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. In a still more particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is a protein, a hydrolysate, or a reaction product of a hydrolysate of proteins containing glycine, alanine, serine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, proline, or threonine, and the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is erythritol.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm of the composition. In a still more particular embodiment, the sweetener composition comprises REBA and glucose, sucrose, HFCS, or D-fructose in an amount from about 10,000 ppm to about 80,000 ppm of the composition.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. In another particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 5,000 to about 60,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with propylene glycol, erythritol, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA) (with at least 50% REBA in a steviol glycoside mixture) in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. Desirably, the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive comprises erythritol. In a particular embodiment of the sweetener composition, rebaudioside A is present in an amount from about 100 to about 3,000 ppm and the erythritol is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the total sweetener composition. In another embodiment of the sweetener composition, rebaudioside A is present in an amount from about 100 to about 3,000 ppm and the erythritol is present in an amount from about 5,000 to about 40,000 ppm of the total sweetener composition. In still another embodiment of the sweetener composition, rebaudioside A is present in an amount from about 100 to about 3,000 ppm and the erythritol is present in an amount from about 10,000 to about 35,000 ppm of the total sweetener composition. In another particular embodiment of the sweetener composition, rebaudioside A and erythritol are present in the sweetener composition in a ratio from about 1:4 to about 1:800, respectively. In yet another particular embodiment of the sweetener composition, rebaudioside A and erythritol are present in the sweetener composition in a ratio from about 1:20 to about 1:600, respectively; more particularly from about 1:50 to about 1:300; and still more particularly from about 1:75 to about 1:150.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, or curculin, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving synthetic sweetener additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the dairy composition comprises a dairy product and a sweetener comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA) in combination with saccharin or acesulfame potassium or other salts in an amount from about 10 ppm to about 100 ppm of the composition.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm of the composition and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with tagatose, fructose or sucrose and erythritol.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with NaCl, KCl, NaHSO₄.H2O, NaH₂PO₄, MgSO₄, KAl(SO₄)₂ (alum), magnesium phosphate, magnesium chloride, KCl and KH₂PO₄, or other combinations thereof. A particularly desirable embodiment comprises a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with a mixture of inorganic salt additives, such as chlorides, phosphates, and sulfates of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium (e.g., sodium chloride and potassium chloride; potassium phosphate and potassium chloride; sodium chloride and sodium phosphate; calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate; magnesium chloride and magnesium phosphate; and calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, and potassium sulfate).

In a particular embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprises aspartame, acesfulame potassium or other salts, and sucralose in combination with at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive is present in an amount in the range of about 25 to about 5,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose in combination with magnesium chloride; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose in combination with magnesium sulfate; or a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose in combination with magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving organic acid salt additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with choline chloride in citrate buffer, D-gluconic acid sodium salt, guanidine HCl, D-glucosamine HCl, amiloride HCl, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving organic acid additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, tannic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine, L-alanine, L-serine, L-threonine, β-alanine, aminobutyric acid (alpha-, beta-, or gamma-isomers), L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, glycine and L-alanine mixture, salt derivatives or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving surfactant additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium, cetylpyridinium chloride, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, sucrose oleate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, lecithin, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polymer additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with cationic polymer such as polyethyleneimine, poly-L-lysine (e.g., poly-L-α-lysine or poly-L-ε-lysine), polyornithine (e.g., poly-L-α-ornithine or poly-ε-ornithine), chitosan, or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving polymer additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving polymer additive is present in an amount from about 30 to about 2,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with a hydrocolloid, such as a gum acacia seyal, and erythritol.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving protein or protein hydrolysate additive is provided. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with bovine serum albumin (BSA), whey protein or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition and the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is present in an amount from about 25 to about 5,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and alum; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and potassium chloride; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and sodium chloride; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising REBA in combination with glycine, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and potassium chloride; and rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, morgroside IV, morgroside V, Lo Han Guo, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm of the composition and the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is present in an amount from about 25 ppm to about 5,000 ppm. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fructose, sucrose, or glucose and alum; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fructose, sucrose, or glucose and potassium chloride; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fructose, sucrose, or glucose and sodium chloride; a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fructose, sucrose, or glucose, potassium phosphate, and potassium chloride; and a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with fructose, sucrose, or glucose, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving bitter additive and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive is provided. A non-limiting example include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with urea and sodium chloride.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving polyamino acid additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition and the at least one sweet taste improving polyamino acid additive is present in an amount from about 30 to about 2,000 ppm of the composition. Non-limiting examples include a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and poly-α-L-lysine; and a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and poly-ε-L-lysine.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving organic acid additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition and the at least one sweet taste improving organic acid additive is present in an amount from about 10 to about 5,000 ppm of the composition. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with glycine and sodium gluconate.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive and at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition and the at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm of the composition. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with L-alanine and fructose.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive, at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive, at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive, and at least one sweet taste improving organic acid salt additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition, the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition, the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic salt additive is present in an amount from about 50 to about 5,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving organic acid salt additive is present in an amount from about 20 to about 10,000 ppm of the composition. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with erythritol, glycine, KCl, KH₂PO₄, and choline chloride.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive, at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive, and at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition, the at least one sweet taste improving carbohydrate additive is present in an amount from about 1,000 to about 100,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with L-alanine, fructose, and erythritol.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive, at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive, and at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is provided. In a particular embodiment, the at least one sweet taste improving amino acid additive is present in an amount from about 100 to about 25,000 ppm of the composition, the at least one sweet taste improving polyol additive is present in an amount from about 400 to about 80,000 ppm of the composition, and the at least one sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is present in an amount from about 25 to about 5,000 ppm of the composition. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with erythritol, glycine, KCl, and KH₂PO₄.

In another embodiment, a dairy composition comprising a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, glycyrrihizin such as mono-ammonium glycyrrhizic acid salt hydrate, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with a sweet taste improving inorganic acid salt additive is provided. A non-limiting example includes a dairy product and a sweetener composition comprising rebaudioside-A (REBA), stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, Luo Han Guo sweetener, monatin, curculin, glycyrrihizin such as mono-ammonium glycyrrhizic acid salt hydrate, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium or other salts, or neotame, in combination with sodium chloride.

The desired weight ratio of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to sweet taste improving composition(s) in the sweetener composition will depend on the particular natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, and the sweetness and other characteristics desired in the final product. Natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners vary greatly in their potency, ranging from about 30 times more potent than sucrose to about 8,000 times more potent than sucrose on a weight basis. In general, the weight ratio of the natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to sweet taste improving composition may for example range from range between 10,000:1 and 1:10,000; a further non-limiting example may range from about 9,000:1 to about 1:9,000; yet another example may range from about 8,000:1 to about 1:8,000; a further example may range from about 7,000:1 to about 1:7,000; another example may range from about 6,000:1 to about 1:6000; in yet another example may range from about 5,000:1 to about 1:5,000; in yet another example may range from about 4,000:1 to about 1:4,000; in yet another example may range from about 3,000:1 to about 1:3,000; in yet another example may range from about 2,000:1 to about 1:2,000; in yet another example may range from about 1,500:1 to about 1:1,500; in yet another example may range from about 1,000:1 to about 1:1,000; in yet another example may range from about 900:1 to about 1:900; in yet another example may range from about 800:1 to about 1:800; in yet another example may range from about 700:1 to about 1:700; in yet another example may range from about 600:1 to about 1:600; in yet another example may range from about 500:1 to about 1:500; in yet another example may range from about 400:1 to about 1:400; in yet another example may range from about 300:1 to about 1:300; in yet another example may range from about 200:1 to about 1:200; in yet another example may range from about 150:1 to about 1:150; in yet another example may range from about 100:1 to about 1:100; in yet another example may range from about 90:1 to about 1:90; in yet another example may range from about 80:1 to about 1:80; in yet another example may range from about 70:1 to about 1:70; in yet another example may range from about 60:1 to about 1:60; in yet another example may range from about 50:1 to about 1:50; in yet another example may range from about 40:1 to about 1:40; in yet another example may range from about 30:1 to about 1:30; in yet another example may range from about 20:1 to about 1:20; in yet another example may range from about 15:1 to about 1:15; in yet another example may range from about 10:1 to about 1:10; in yet another example may range from about 9:1 to about 1:9; in yet another example may range from about 8:1 to about 1:8; in yet another example may range from about 7:1 to about 1:7; in yet another example may range from about 6:1 to about 1:6; in yet another example may range from about 5:1 to about 1:5; in yet another example may range from about 4:1 to about 1:4; in yet another example may range from about 3:1 to about 1:3; in yet another example may range from about 2:1 to about 1:2; and in yet another example may be about 1:1; depending on the particular natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener selected.

It is contemplated that the combination of at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener to at least one sweet taste improving composition may be carried out in any pH range that does not materially or adversely affect the taste of the sweetener composition. A non-limiting example of the pH range may be from about 2 to about 8. A further example includes a pH range from about 2 to about 5.

One of ordinary skill in the art may combine at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and sweetenble composition in any manner. For example, at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener may be added to the sweetenble composition before the at least one sweet taste improving composition. In another example, at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener may be added to the sweetenble composition after the at least one sweet taste improving composition. In yet another example, at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener may be added to the sweetenble composition simultaneously with the at least one sweet taste improving composition.

In yet another embodiment, at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener may be combined with the at least one sweet taste improving composition prior to being added to a sweetenble composition. For example, the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener may be in a pure, diluted, or concentrated form as a liquid (e.g., solution), solid (e.g., powder, chunk, pellet, grain, block, crystalline, or the like), suspension, gas state, or combinations thereof may be contacted with the at least one sweet taste improving composition which may be in a pure, diluted, or concentrated form as a liquid (e.g., solution), solid (e.g., powder, chunk, pellet, grain, block, crystalline, or the like), suspension, gas state, or combinations thereof before both are contacted with a sweetenble composition. In yet another embodiment, when there are more than one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners or more than one sweet taste improving composition in the sweeteneable composition, each component of the sweetenable composition may be added simultaneously, in an alternating pattern, in a random pattern, or any other pattern.

Generally, the amount of natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener present in a sweetened composition varies widely depending on the desired sweetness. Those of ordinary skill in the art can readily discern the appropriate amount of sweetener to put in the sweetened composition. In a particular embodiment, the at least one natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener is present in the sweetened composition in an amount in the range of about 1 to about 5,000 ppm of the sweetened composition and the at least one sweet taste improving composition is present in the sweetened composition in an amount in the range of about 0.1 to about 100,000 ppm of the sweetened composition.

In accordance with particular embodiments, suitable amounts of natural high-potency sweeteners for sweetened compositions comprise amounts in the range from about 100 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for rebaudioside A; from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for stevia; from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for stevioside; from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for mogroside IV; from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for mogroside V; from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for Luo Han Guo sweetener; from about 5 ppm to about 300 ppm for monatin, from about 5 ppm to about 200 ppm for thaumatin; and from about 50 ppm to about 3,000 ppm for mono-ammonium glycyrrhizic acid salt hydrate.

In accordance with particular embodiments, suitable amounts of synthetic high-potency sweeteners for sweetened compositions comprise a range from about 1 ppm to about 60 ppm for alitame; from about 10 ppm to about 600 ppm for aspartame; from about 1 ppm to about 20 ppm for neotame; from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm for acesulfame potassium; from about 50 ppm to about 5,000 ppm for cyclamate; from about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm for saccharin; from about 5 ppm to about 250 ppm for sucralose; from about 1 ppm to about 20 ppm for N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester; from about 1 ppm to about 20 ppm for N—[N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbutyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester; and from about 1 ppm to about 20 ppm for N—[N-[3-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester.

V. EXAMPLES

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations upon the scope thereof. On the contrary, it is to be clearly understood that resort may be had to various other embodiments, modifications, and equivalents thereof which, after reading the description therein, may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention and/or the scope of the appended claims. Unless otherwise specified, %'s are by weight.

Example Set A Example A1 Milk

A dairy composition comprises a dairy product, at least one high-potency sweetener, and at least one sweet taste improving composition. The dairy product comprises 2% milk obtained from a commercial source. The at least one high-potency sweetner is provided at a concentration of 450 ppm and comprises substantially pure rebaudioside A having 98.91 wt. % rebadioside A, 0.06 wt. % stevioside, 0.03 wt. % rebaudioside C, 0.12 wt. % unknown #1, 0.13 wt. % unknown #2, 0.1 wt. % rebaudioside D, 0.49 wt. % rebaudioside B, and 0.03 wt. % steviolbioside. The at least one sweet taste improving composition comprises erythritol and is provided at a concentration of 35,000 ppm.

Example A2 Ice Cream

A dairy composition comprises a mixture of cream, high-potency sweetener, and a sweet taste improving composition. The high-potency sweetener comprises substantially pure rebaudioside A having 98.91 wt. % rebadioside A, 0.06 wt. % stevioside, 0.03 wt. % rebaudioside C, 0.12 wt. % unknown #1, 0.13 wt. % unknown #2, 0.1 wt. % rebaudioside D, 0.49 wt. % rebaudioside B, and 0.03 wt. % steviolbioside. The sweet taste improving composition comprises erythritol. The high potency sweetener is provided at a concentration of 450 ppm and the sweet taste improving composition is provided at a concentration of 35,000 ppm. After mixing, the composition is cooled below its freezing point while stirring to produce a frozen ice cream composition.

Example A3 Yogurt

A dairy composition is formed by inoculating pasteurized milk with a bacterial culture and incubating between 104 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The fermentation of lactose by the bacteria produces lactic acid. The mixture is allowed to incubate until the pH drops to about 5.0, at which point the mixture begins to form a yogurt gel. A high-potency sweetener comprising substantially pure rebaudioside A having 98.91 wt. % rebadioside A, 0.06 wt. % stevioside, 0.03 wt. % rebaudioside C, 0.12 wt. % unknown #1, 0.13 wt. % unknown #2, 0.1 wt. % rebaudioside D, 0.49 wt. % rebaudioside B, and 0.03 wt. % steviolbioside is provided at a concentration of 450 ppm. A sweet taste improving composition comprising erythritol is added to the yogurt at a concentration of 35,000 ppm. After the addition of the sweetener, the mixture is refrigerated in order to stop the fermentation and growth of the bacteria and to firm the yogurt gel. The process of forming yogurt is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a process for forming yogurt is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,186 to Streiff et al.

The following Examples B1-B3, C1-C3, D, E1-E3, and F illustrate methods of making purified rebaudioside A in accordance with particular embodiments of this invention:

Example Set B

TABLE 2 Summary of Examples B1-3 Crude Solvent HPLC Rebaudioside Ethanol Methanol Water Heating Drying Yield Purity A (g) (95%)(mL) (99%)(mL) (mL) T (° C.) T (° C.) (g) (wt/wt %) B1 400 1200 400 320 50 50 130 98.9 B2 100 320 120 50 30-40 60 72 98.3 B3 50 160 60 25 ~30  60 27.3 98.2

Example B1

Crude rebaudioside A (77.4% purity) mixture was obtained from a commercial source. The impurities (6.2% stevioside, 5.6% rebaudioside C, 0.6% rebauiodioside F, 1.0% other steviolglycosides, 3.0% rebaudioside D, 4.9% rebaudioside B, 0.3% steviolbioside) were identified and quantified using HPLC on dry basis, moisture content 4.7%.

Crude rebaudioside A (400 g), ethanol (95%, 1200 mL), methanol (99%, 400 mL) and water (320 mL) were combined and heated to 50° C. for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 16 hours. The white crystals were filtered and washed twice with ethanol (2×200 mL, 95%) and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm).

The final composition of substantially pure rebaudioside A (130 g) comprised 98.91% rebaudioside A, 0.06% stevioside, 0.03% rebaudioside C, 0.12% rebaudioside F, 0.13% other steviolglycosides, 0.1% rebaudioside D, 0.49% rebaudioside B and 0.03% steviolbioside, all by weight.

Example B2

Crude rebaudioside A (80.37%) was obtained from a commercial source. The impurities (6.22% stevioside, 2.28% rebaudioside C, 0.35% Dulcoside, 0.78% rebaudioside F, 0.72% other steviolglycosides, 3.33% rebaudioside B, 0.07% steviolbioside) were identified by HPLC on dry basis, moisture content 3.4%.

Crude rebaudioside A (100 g), ethanol (95%, 320 mL), methanol (99%, 120 mL) and water (50 mL) were combined and heated to 30-40° C. for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 16 hours. The white crystals were filtered and washed twice with ethanol (2×50 mL, 95%). The wet filter cake (88 g) was slurried in ethanol (95%, 1320 mL) for 16 hours, filtered, washed with ethanol (95%, 2×100 mL) and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm).

The final composition of substantially pure rebaudioside A (72 g) comprised 98.29% rebaudioside A, 0.03% stevioside, 0.02% rebaudioside C, 0.17% rebaudioside F, 0.06% rebaudioside D and 1.09% rebaudioside B. Steviolbioside was not detected by HPLC.

Example B3

Crude rebaudioside A (80.37%) was obtained from a commercial source. The impurities (6.22% stevioside, 2.28% rebaudioside C, 0.35% Dulcoside, 0.78% rebaudioside F, 0.72% other steviolglycosides, 3.33% rebaudioside B, 0.07% steviolbioside) were identified by HPLC on dry basis, moisture content 3.4%.

Crude rebaudioside A (50 g), ethanol (95%, 160 mL), methanol (99%, 60 mL) and water (25 mL) were combined and heated to approximately 30° C. for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 16 hours. The white crystals were filtered and washed twice with ethanol (2×25 mL, 95%). The wet filter cake (40 g) was slurried in methanol (99%, 600 mL) for 16 hours, filtered, washed with methanol (99%, 2×25 mL) and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm).

The final composition of substantially pure rebaudioside A (27.3 g) comprised 98.22% rebaudioside A, 0.04% stevioside, 0.04% rebaudioside C, 0.18% rebaudioside F, 0.08% rebaudioside D and 1.03% rebaudioside B. Steviolbioside was not detected by HPLC.

Example Set C

TABLE 3 Summary of Examples C1-3 Solvent Crude Organic Rebaudioside Ethanol Co-solvent Water Wash Yield HPLC A (g) (95%)(mL) (mL) (mL) Solvent (g) Purity (%) C1 5 15 Methanol (6) 3.5 EtOH/MeOH 2.6 >99 (3:1 v/v) C2 5 15 Methanol (5) 4 EtOH/MeOH 2.3 >99 (3:1 v/v) C3 5 16 Methanol (6) 2.5 *EtOH/MeOH 3.2 >98 (8:3 v/v)

Example C1

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (80.37% purity, 5 g), ethanol (95%, 15 mL), methanol (5 mL) and water (3.5 mL) were combined and heated to reflux for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 16 hours while stirring. The white crystalline product was filtered, washed twice with ethanol:methanol (5.0 mL, 3:1, v/v) mixture and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to yield 2.6 g of purified product (>99% by HPLC).

Example C2

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (80.37% purity, 5 g), ethanol (95%, 15 mL), methanol (5 mL) and water (4.0 mL) were combined and heated to reflux for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 16 hours while stirring. The white crystalline product was filtered, washed twice with ethanol:methanol (5.0 mL, 3:1, v/v) mixture and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to yield 2.3 g of purified product (>99% by HPLC).

Example C3

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (80.37% purity, 5 g), ethanol (95%, 16 mL), methanol (6 mL) and water (2.5 mL) were combined and heated to reflux for 10 minutes. The clear solution was cooled to 22° C. for 2 hours. During this time, crystals started to appear. The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. The white crystalline product was filtered, washed twice with ethanol:methanol (5.0 mL, 8:3, v/v) mixture and dried in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to yield 3.2 g of purified product (>98% by HPLC).

Example D

TABLE 4 Summary of Example D Solvent Crude Organic Rebaudioside Solvent Water Wash Yield HPLC A (g) (mL) (mL) Solvent (g) Purity (%) D 50 EtOH (160) 40 EtOH 19.8 99.5

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (80.37% purity, 50 g), ethanol (95%, 160 mL) and water (40 mL) were combined and heated to reflux for 30 minutes. The mixture was then allowed to cool to ambient temperature for 16-24 hours. The white crystalline product was filtered, washed twice with ethanol (95%, 25 mL), and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to yield 19.8 g of purified product (99.5% by HPLC).

Example Set E

TABLE 5 Summary of Examples E1-3 Crude Organic Rebaudioside Ethanol Co-solvent Water Methanol Yield HPLC A (g) (95%)(mL) (mL) (mL) Slurry (mL) (g) Purity (%) E1 50 160 Methanol (60) 25 200 12.7 >97 E2 50 160 Methanol (60) 25 300 18.6 >97 E3 50 160 Methanol (60) 25 350 22.2 >97

Example E1

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (41% purity, 50 g), ethanol (95%, 160 mL), methanol (99.8%, 60 mL) and water (25 mL) were combined by stirring at 22° C. A white product crystallized out in 5-20 hours. The mixture was stirred for additional 48 hours. The white crystalline product was filtered and washed twice with ethanol (95%, 25 mL). The wet cake of white crystalline product then was slurried in methanol (99.8%, 200 mL) for 16 hours, filtered, washed twice with methanol (99.8%, 25 mL), and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to give 12.7 g of purified product (>97% by HPLC).

Example E2

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (48% purity, 50 g), ethanol (95%, 160 mL), methanol (99.8%, 60 mL) and water (25 mL) was combined by stirring at 22° C. The white product crystallized out in 3-6 hours. The mixture was stirred for additional 48 hours. The white crystalline product was filtered and washed twice with ethanol (95%, 25 mL). The wet cake of white crystalline product then was slurried in methanol (99.8%, 300 mL) for 16 hours, filtered, washed twice with methanol (99.8%, 25 mL) and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to give 18.6 g of purified product (>97% by HPLC).

Example E3

A mixture of crude rebaudioside A (55% purity, 50 g), ethanol (95%, 160 mL), methanol (99.8%, 60 mL) and water (25 mL) was combined by stirring at 22° C. The white product crystallized out in 15-30 minutes. The mixture was stirred for an additional 48 hours. The white crystalline product was filtered and washed twice with ethanol (95%, 25 mL). The wet cake of white crystalline product was slurried in methanol (99.8%, 350 mL) for 16 hours, filtered, washed twice with methanol (99.8%, 25 mL) and dried in a vacuum oven at 60° C. for 16-24 hours under reduced pressure (20 mm) to give 22.2 g of purified product (>97% by HPLC).

Example F

A solution of rebaudioside A (>97% pure by HPLC) was prepared in double distilled water (12.5 gm in 50 mL, 25% concentration) by stirring the mixture at 40° C. for 5 minutes. An amorphous form of rebaudioside A was formed by immediately using the clear solution for spray drying with the Lab-Plant spray drier SD-04 instrument (Lab-Plant Ltd., West Yorkshire, U.K.). The solution was fed through the feed pump into the nozzle atomizer which atomized it into a spray of droplets with the help of a constant flow of nitrogen/air. Moisture was evaporated from the droplets under controlled temperature conditions (about 90 to about 97° C.) and airflow conditions in the drying chamber and resulted in the formation of dry particles. This dry powder (11-12 g, H₂O 6.74%) was discharged continuously from the drying chamber and was collected in a bottle. The solubility in water at room temperature was determined to be >35.0%.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 

We claim:
 1. A dairy composition comprising milk, rebaudioside A and erythritol, wherein: the rebaudioside A has a purity greater than about 97% by weight on a dry basis and the weight ratio of rebaudioside A to erythritol is from about 1:75 to about 1:150.
 2. The dairy composition of claim 1, wherein the milk is selected from the group consisting of 1% fat content milk, 2% fat content milk, skim milk and combinations thereof.
 3. The dairy composition of claim 1, wherein the rebaudioside A is present in a concentration of about 450 ppm.
 4. The dairy composition of claim 1, wherein the erythritol is present in a concentration of about 35,000 ppm.
 5. A method for preparing a dairy composition comprising combining milk, rebaudioside A and erythritol, wherein the rebaudioside A has a purity greater than about 97% by weight on a dry basis and the weight ratio of rebaudioside A to erythritol is from about 1:75 to about 1:150.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the milk is selected from the group consisting of 1% fat content milk, 2% fat content milk, skim milk and combinations thereof.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the rebaudioside A is present in a concentration of about 450 ppm.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the erythritol is present in a concentration of about 35,000 ppm. 